# What is the difference between \newline and \\?

As far as I know, `\\` and `\newline` both insert a new line. But they do not have an identical expansion and tracing shows they do not execute the same commands, so what is their difference?

• As far as I know, `\newline` is defined as the normal (i.e., without optional argument and non-starred) version of \\. – Gonzalo Medina Aug 30 '11 at 22:58
• @Gonzalo: Yip, from `latex.ltx1`, `\DeclareRobustCommand\newline{\@normalcr\relax}` where `expandafter\let\expandafter\@normalcr \csname\expandafter\@gobble\string\\ \endcsname`. – Werner Aug 30 '11 at 23:28
• Don't also forget the \linebreak command – Dr_Zaszuś Mar 27 '15 at 9:37
• Doesn't `\newline` mark the division between paragraphs? – Someone Dec 16 '20 at 15:29

From a usage point-of-view, there is a difference between `\\` and `\newline`:

• `\\`

Tells LaTeX to start a new line. This command has a starred version and takes an optional parameter:

• `\\*`: Similar to `\\` but also tells LaTeX not to start a new page after the line by issuing a `\nobreak`.

• `\\[<len>]`: This specifies the vertical space `<len>` to be inserted before the next line. Can also be negative.

The above two can also be mixed. That is, using both a starred + optional argument combination `\\*[<len>]`.

• `\newline`

Similar to `\\`.

From a technical point of view (in `latex.ltx`), these commands are defined as follows, justifying the similarity between `\\` (unstarred and without optional argument) and `\newline`:

``````\DeclareRobustCommand\\{%
\let \reserved@e \relax
\let \reserved@f \relax
\@ifstar{\let \reserved@e \vadjust \let \reserved@f \nobreak \@xnewline}%
\@xnewline}
\expandafter\let\expandafter\@normalcr
\csname\expandafter\@gobble\string\\ \endcsname
\DeclareRobustCommand\newline{\@normalcr\relax}
``````

LaTeX also redefines `\\` to mean other things depending on the environment(s) you use. For example, within an `array` or `tabular` environment, the commonly-used `\\` has a slightly different meaning to when it is used in regular text.

• Note that \\ will be redefined by some commands like `\centering` while `\newline` won't. For that reason using `\newline` with `\centering` will give undesired results. – user2574 Aug 31 '11 at 7:15
• Can you give an example of `\\*[<len>]` which skips 2 baselines? – Jeff Aug 2 '15 at 15:36
• For someone who is new to Latex, your answer reads as: "From a usage POV, there is a difference between A and B: A does something, and B is similar to A. From a technical POV: [Don't understand a word]". Maybe you could add an example of different behavior in common text formatting situations? – Bananach Nov 1 '15 at 10:31
• I don't understand the answer. "\\ tells ...., \newline Similar to \\". So is there a difference between the two or not? What's the difference? Is there an example where the two commands can give different results? – gigabytes Feb 14 '17 at 12:51
• @gigabytes: As mentioned in comment, `\centering` would be one case where `\\` and `\newline` would yield different results. See this paste and its accompanying output. – Werner Feb 14 '17 at 16:38