Used to display a list of items that do not have a special ordering. Inside the environment, use an \item command for each topic.

If the optional parameter ⟨default overlay specification⟩ is given, in every occurrence of an \item command that does not have an overlay specification attached to it, the ⟨default overlay specification⟩ is used. By setting this specification to be an incremental overlay specification, see Section 9.6.4, you can implement, for example, a step-wise uncovering of the items. The ⟨default overlay specification⟩ is inherited by subenvironments. Naturally, in a subenvironment you can reset it locally by setting it to <1->.

Example:

\begin{itemize}
\item This is important.
\item This is also important.
\end{itemize}

Example:

\begin{itemize}[<+->]
\item This is shown from the first slide on.
\item This is shown from the second slide on.
\item This is shown from the third slide on.
\item<1-> This is shown from the first slide on.
\item This is shown from the fourth slide on.
\end{itemize}

Example:

\begin{itemize}[<+-| alert@+>]
\item This is shown from the first slide on and alerted on the first slide.
\item This is shown from the second slide on and alerted on the second slide.
\item This is shown from the third slide on and alerted on the third slide.
\end{itemize}

Example:

\newenvironment{mystepwiseitemize}{\begin{itemize}[<+-| alert@+>]}{\end{itemize}}

The appearance of an itemize list is governed by several templates. The first template concerns the way the little marker introducing each item is typeset:

Used to display a list of items that are ordered. Inside the environment, use an \item command for each topic. By default, before each item increasing Arabic numbers followed by a dot are printed (as in “1.” and “2.”). This can be changed by specifying a different template, see below.

The first optional argument ⟨default overlay specification⟩ has exactly the same effect as for the itemize environment. It is “detected” by the opening <-sign in the ⟨default overlay specification⟩. Thus, if there is only one optional argument and if this argument does not start with <, then it is considered to be a ⟨mini template⟩.

The syntax of the ⟨mini template⟩ is the same as the syntax of mini templates in the enumerate package (you do not need to include the enumerate package, this is done automatically). Roughly spoken, the text of the ⟨mini template⟩ is printed before each item, but any occurrence of a 1 in the mini template is replaced by the current item number, an occurrence of the letter A is replaced by the -th letter of the alphabet (in uppercase) for the -th item, and the letters a, i, and I are replaced by the corresponding lowercase letters, lowercase Roman letters, and uppercase Roman letters, respectively. So the mini template (i) would yield the items (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), and so on. The mini template A.) would yield the items A.), B.), C.), D.) and so on. For more details on the possible mini templates, see the documentation of the enumerate package. Note that there is also a template that governs the appearance of the mini template.

Example:

\begin{enumerate}
\item This is important.
\item This is also important.
\end{enumerate}

\begin{enumerate}[(i)]
\item First Roman point.
\item Second Roman point.
\end{enumerate}

\begin{enumerate}[<+->][(i)]
\item First Roman point.
\item Second Roman point, uncovered on second slide.
\end{enumerate}

To use the ⟨mini template⟩, you have to include the package enumerate.

\setbeamertemplate{enumerate subitem}{\insertenumlabel-\insertsubenumlabel}

Like itemize, but used to display a list that explains or defines labels. The width of ⟨long text⟩ is used to set the indentation. Normally, you choose the widest label in the description and copy it here. If you do not give this argument, the default width is used, which can be changed using \setbeamersize with the argument description width=⟨width⟩.

As for enumerate, the ⟨default overlay specification⟩ is detected by an opening <. The effect is the same as for enumerate and itemize.

Example:

\begin{description}
\item[Lion] King of the savanna.
\item[Tiger] King of the jungle.
\end{description}

\begin{description}[longest label]
\item<1->[short] Some text.
\item<2->[longest label] Some text.
\item<3->[long label] Some text.
\end{description}

Example: The following has the same effect as the previous example:

\begin{description}[<+->][longest label]
\item[short] Some text.
\item[longest label] Some text.
\item[long label] Some text.
\end{description}

Environment version of the \structure command.

Environment version of the \alert command.

Only one ⟨action specification⟩ may be given. Inserts a block, like a definition or a theorem, with the title ⟨block title⟩. If the ⟨action specification⟩ is present, the given actions are taken on the specified slides, see Section 9.6.3. In the example, the definition is shown only from slide 3 onward.

Example:

\begin{block}<3->{Definition}
  A \alert{set} consists of elements.
\end{block}

The block name is typeset in bold.

Inserts a block whose title is highlighting. Behaves like the block environment otherwise.

Example:

 \begin{alertblock}{Wrong Theorem}
   $1=2$.
 \end{alertblock}

The block name is typeset in bold and is emphasized.

Inserts a block that is supposed to be an example. Behaves like the block environment otherwise.

Example: In the following example, the block is completely suppressed on the first slide (it does not even occupy any space).

 \begin{exampleblock}{Example}<only@2->
   The set $\{1,2,3,5\}$ has four elements.
 \end{exampleblock}

The block name is typeset in italics.

Inserts a theorem. Only one ⟨action specification⟩ may be given. If present, the ⟨additional text⟩ is shown behind the word “Theorem” in rounded brackets (although this can be changed by the template).

The appearance of the theorem is governed by the templates theorem begin and theorem end, see their description later on for details on how to change these. Every theorem is put into a block environment, thus the templates for blocks also apply.

The theorem style (a concept from amsthm) used for this environment is plain. In this style, the body of a theorem should be typeset in italics. The head of the theorem should be typeset in a bold font, but this is usually overruled by the templates.

If the option envcountsect is given either as class option in one of the presentation modes or as an option to the package beamerarticle in article mode, then the numbering of the theorems is local to each section with the section number prefixing the theorem number; otherwise they are numbered consecutively throughout the presentation or article. We recommend using this option in article mode.

By default, no theorem numbers are shown in the presentation modes.

Example:

\begin{theorem}[Kummer, 1992]
 If $\#^_A^n$ is $n$-enumerable, then $A$ is recursive.
\end{theorem}

\begin{theorem}<2->[Tantau, 2002]
 If $\#_A^2$ is $2$-fa-enumerable, then $A$ is regular.
\end{theorem}

Behaves like the theorem environment, except that the theorem style definition is used. In this style, the body of a theorem is typeset in an upright font.

Behaves like the theorem environment, except that the theorem style example is used. A side-effect of using this theorem style is that the ⟨environment contents⟩ is put in an exampleblock instead of a block.

Typesets a proof. If the optional ⟨proof name⟩ is given, it completely replaces the word “Proof.” This is different from normal theorems, where the optional argument is shown in brackets.

At the end of the proof, a \qed symbol is shown, except if you say \qedhere earlier in the proof (this is exactly as in amsthm). The default \qed symbol is an open square. To completely suppress the symbol, write \def\qedsymbol{} in your preamble. To get a closed square, say

\setbeamertemplate{qed symbol}{\vrule width1.5ex height1.5ex depth0pt}

If you use babel and a different language, the text “Proof” is replaced by whatever is appropriate in the selected language.

Example:

\begin{proof}<2->[Sketch of proof]
 Suppose ...
\end{proof}

This environment can be used to conveniently typeset some text using some beamer-color. Basically, the following two command blocks do the same:

\begin{beamercolorbox}{beamer color}
  Text
\end{beamercolorbox}

{
    \usebeamercolor{beamer color}
    \colorbox{bg}{
      \color{fg}
      Text
    }
}

In other words, the environment installs the ⟨beamer color⟩ and uses the background for the background of the box and the foreground for the text inside the box. However, in reality, numerous ⟨options⟩ can be given to specify in much greater detail how the box is rendered.

If the background color of ⟨beamer color⟩ is empty, no background is drawn behind the text, that is, the background is “transparent.”

This command is used extensively by the default inner and outer themes for typesetting the headlines and footlines. It is not really intended to be used in normal frames (for example, it is not available inside article mode). You should prefer using structuring elements like blocks or theorems that automatically insert colored boxes as needed.

Example: The following example could be used to typeset a headline with two lines, the first showing the document title, the second showing the author’s name:

\begin{beamercolorbox}[ht=2.5ex,dp=1ex,center]{title in head/foot}
  \usebeamerfont{title in head/foot}
  \insertshorttitle
\end{beamercolorbox}%
\begin{beamercolorbox}[ht=2.5ex,dp=1ex,center]{author in head/foot}
  \usebeamerfont{author in head/foot}
  \insertshortauthor
\end{beamercolorbox}

Example: Typesetting a postit:

\setbeamercolor{postit}{fg=black,bg=yellow}
\begin{beamercolorbox}[sep=1em,wd=5cm]{postit}
  Place me somewhere!
\end{beamercolorbox}

The following ⟨options⟩ can be given:

• • wd={⟨width⟩} sets the width of the box. This command has two effects: First, TeX’s \hsize is set to ⟨width⟩. Second, after the box has been typeset, its width is set to ⟨width⟩ (no matter what it actually turned out to be). Since setting the \hsize does not automatically change some of LaTeX’s linewidth dimensions, you should consider using a minipage inside this environment if you fool around with the width.

  If the width is larger than the normal text width, as specified by the value of \textwidth, the width of the resulting box is reset to the width \textwidth, but intelligent negative skips are inserted at the left and right end of the box. The net effect of this is that you can use a width larger than the text width for a box and can insert the resulting box directly into normal text without getting annoying warnings and having the box positioned sensibly.

• • dp={⟨depth⟩} sets the depth of the box, overriding the real depth of the box. The box is first typeset normally, then the depth is changed afterwards. This option is useful for creating boxes that have guaranteed size.

  If the option is not given, the box has its “natural” depth, which results from the typesetting. For example, a box containing only the letter “a” will have a different depth from a box containing only the letter “g.”

• • ht=⟨height⟩ sets the height of the box, overriding the real height. Note that the “height” does not include the depth (see, for example, the TeX-book for details). If you want a one-line box that always has the same size, setting the height to 2.25ex and the depth to 1ex is usually a good option.

• • left causes the text inside the box to be typeset left-aligned and with a (radically) ragged right border. This is the default. To get a better ragged right border, use the rightskip option. Note that this will override any leftskip or rightskip setting.

• • right causes the text to be right-aligned with a (radically) ragged left border. Note that this will override any leftskip or rightskip setting.

• • center centers the text inside the box. Note that this will override any leftskip or rightskip setting.

• • leftskip=⟨left skip⟩ installs the ⟨left skip⟩ inside the box as the left skip. TeX’s left skip is a glue that is inserted at the left end of every line. See the TeX-book for details. Note that this will override any left, center or right setting.

• • rightskip=⟨right skip⟩ install the ⟨right skip⟩. To get a good ragged right border, try, say, \rightskip=0pt plus 4em. Note that this will override any left, center or right setting.

• • sep=⟨dimension⟩ sets the size of extra space around the text. This space is added “inside the box,” which means that if you specify a sep of 1cm and insert the box normally into the vertical list, then the left border of the box will be aligned with the left border of the slide text, while the left border of the text inside the box will be 1cm to the right of this left border. Likewise, the text inside the box will stop 1cm before the right border of the normal text.

• • colsep=⟨dimension⟩ sets the extra “color separation space” around the text. This space behaves the same way as the space added by sep, only this space is only inserted if the box has a colored background, that is, if the background of the ⟨beamer color⟩ is not empty. This command can be used together with sep, the effects accumulate.

• • colsep*=⟨dimension⟩ sets an extra color separation space around the text that is horizontally outside the box. This means that if the box has a background, this background will protrude by ⟨dimension⟩ to the left and right of the text, but this protruding background will not be taken into consideration by TeX for typesetting purposes.

  A typical example usage of this option arises when you insert a box with a colored background in the middle of normal text. In this case, if the background color is set, you would like a background to be drawn behind the text and you would like a certain extra space around this text (the background should not stop immediately at the borders of the text, this looks silly) and you would like the normal text always to be at the same horizontal position, independently of whether a background is present or not. In this case, using colsep*=4pt is a good option.

• • shadow=⟨true or false⟩ draws a shadow behind the box. Currently, this option only has an effect if used together with the rounded option, but that may change.

• • rounded=⟨true or false⟩ causes the borders of the box to be rounded off if there is a background installed. This command internally calls beamerboxesrounded. In this case, colsep* option will have no effect.

• • ignorebg causes the background color of the ⟨beamer color⟩ to be ignored, that is, to be treated as if it were set to “transparent” or “empty.”

• • vmode causes TeX to be in vertical mode when the box starts. Normally, TeX will be in horizontal mode at the start of the box (a \leavevmode is inserted automatically at the beginning of the box unless this option is given). Only TeXperts need this option, so, if you use it, you will probably know what you are doing anyway.

The text inside the environment is framed by a rectangular area with rounded corners. For the large rectangular area, the beamer-color specified with the lower option is used. Its background is used for the background, its foreground for the foreground. If the ⟨head⟩ is not empty, ⟨head⟩ is drawn in the upper part of the box using the beamer-color specified with the upper option for the fore- and background. The following options can be given:

• • lower=⟨beamer color⟩ sets the beamer-color to be used for the lower (main) part of the box. Its background is used for the background, its foreground for the foreground of the main part of the box. If either is empty, the current background or foreground is used. The box will never be transparent.

• • upper=⟨beamer color⟩ sets the beamer-color used for the upper (head) part of the box. It is only used if the ⟨head⟩ is not empty.

• • width=⟨dimension⟩ causes the width of the text inside the box to be the specified ⟨dimension⟩. By default, the \textwidth is used. Note that the box will protrude 4pt to the left and right.

• • shadow=⟨true or false⟩. If set to true, a shadow will be drawn.

If no ⟨head⟩ is given, the head part is completely suppressed.

Example:

\begin{beamerboxesrounded}[upper=block head,lower=block body,shadow=true]{Theorem}
  $A = B$.
\end{beamerboxesrounded}

This environment is not available in article mode.

A multi-column area. If the ⟨action specification⟩ is present, the given actions are taken on the specified slides, see Section 9.6.3. Inside the environment you should place only column environments or \column commands (see below). The following ⟨options⟩ may be given:

• • b will cause the bottom lines of the columns to be vertically aligned.

• • c will cause the columns to be centered vertically relative to each other. Default, unless the global option t is used.

• • onlytextwidth is the same as totalwidth=\textwidth. This option can also be set for the whole document with the onlytextwidth class option:

  \documentclass[onlytextwidth]{beamer}

• • t will cause the first lines of the columns to be aligned. Default if global option t is used.

• • T is similar to the t option, but T aligns the tops of the first lines while t aligns the so-called baselines of the first lines. If strange things seem to happen in conjunction with the t option (for example if a graphic suddenly “drops down” with the t option instead of “going up”), try using this option instead.

• • totalwidth=⟨width⟩ will cause the columns to occupy not the whole page width, but only ⟨width⟩, all told. Note that this means that any margins are ignored.

Example:

\begin{columns}[t]
  \begin{column}{5cm}
    Two\\lines.
  \end{column}
  \begin{column}{5cm}
    One line (but aligned).
  \end{column}
\end{columns}

Example:

\begin{columns}[t]
  \column{5cm}
    Two\\lines.

  \column[T]{5cm}
    \includegraphics[height=3cm]{mygraphic.jpg}
\end{columns}

This environment is ignored in article mode.

Creates a single column of width ⟨column width⟩. If the ⟨action specification⟩ is present, the given actions are taken on the specified slides, see Section 9.6.3. The vertical placement of the enclosing columns environment can be overruled by specifying a specific ⟨placement⟩ (t and T for the two top modes, c for centered, and b for bottom).

Example: The following code has the same effect as the above examples:

\begin{columns}
  \begin{column}[t]{5cm}
    Two\\lines.
  \end{column}
  \begin{column}[t]{5cm}
    One line (but aligned).
  \end{column}
\end{columns}

This command is ignored in article mode.

The text inside this environment is typeset like verbatim text. However, the characters \, {, and } retain their meaning. Thus, you can say things like

\alert<1->{std::cout << "AT&T likes 100% performance";}

To typeset the three characters \, {, and } you can use the commands \\ (which is redefined inside this environment—you do not need it anyway), \{, and \}. Thus in order to get typeset “\alert<1>{X}” you can write \\alert<1>\{X\}.

You can use this environment to typeset an abstract.

You can use this environment to typeset a verse.

Use this environment to typeset multi-paragraph quotations. Think again, before presenting multi-paragraph quotations.

Use this environment to typeset a single-paragraph quotation.