Vector arrow (→ over a letter) in LaTeX

Vector arrow (→ over a letter)

Accents & decorations

v⃗

LaTeX command

\vec{v}

arrow over one letter

Use inside math mode: $\vec{v}$ — base LaTeX, KaTeX and MathJax

Two conventions compete: an arrow over the letter (\vec) or bold (\mathbf). School and physics writing lean on the arrow; mathematics journals almost always bold. \overrightarrow extends the arrow over several letters, as in a directed segment.

All ways to write it

Command	Use	Package
`\vec{v}`	arrow over one letter	none
`\overrightarrow{AB}`	arrow over a group	none
`\mathbf{v}`	bold, the alternative convention	none
`\boldsymbol{v}`	bold italic	amsmath

Commands marked with a package need that \usepackage line in a LaTeX document.

Example

\vec{F} = m\vec{a}, \qquad \overrightarrow{AB} = B - A

Newton's second law with arrows, and a displacement vector.

Questions

How do I get a unit vector hat on a bold letter?

\hat{\mathbf{n}} nests the accent over the bold letter.

Related symbols

Hat x̂ \hat{x}
Arrows → \rightarrow
Cross product × \times

Using vector arrow in Confluence

Confluence Cloud has no built-in LaTeX. With LaTeX Math for Confluence you add a math macro to any page, type \vec{v} and it renders inline or as a block, with a live preview while you edit. Every command on this page renders there without extra packages.