# \limits

Used after large operators such as \sum or \lim to force limits-style placement of following subscripts and superscripts above/below the operator.

https://texform.dev/latex/commands/limits

## Metadata

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Topic | [Large operators](https://texform.dev/latex/topics/operators-limits) |
| Packages | base |
| Allowed mode | math |
| Tags | presentation |
| Commonality | medium |
| Kind | prefix |

## Syntax

### base

Argument specification: ``

Used after large operators such as \sum or \lim to force limits-style placement of following subscripts and superscripts above/below the operator.

## Common tasks

### How to force limits above and below an operator

Useful in inline math when you still want under/over limits.

```latex
\sum\limits_{n=1}^\infty a_n
```

[Open in Playground](https://play.texform.dev/?input=%5Csum%5Climits_%7Bn%3D1%7D%5E%5Cinfty+a_n)

### How to put limits under an integral

```latex
\int\limits_a^b f(x)\,dx
```

[Open in Playground](https://play.texform.dev/?input=%5Cint%5Climits_a%5Eb+f%28x%29%5C%2Cdx)

### How to apply limits to a custom operator

```latex
\mathop{\mathrm{arg\,max}}\limits_x f(x)
```

[Open in Playground](https://play.texform.dev/?input=%5Cmathop%7B%5Cmathrm%7Barg%5C%2Cmax%7D%7D%5Climits_x+f%28x%29)

## Examples

```latex
\sum\limits_1^2
```

[Open in Playground](https://play.texform.dev/?input=%5Csum%5Climits_1%5E2)

## Renderer support

| Package | MathJax | KaTeX | XeTeX |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| base | full | full | full |

## Usage frequency

1.93% of formulas in the measured corpus contain this entry, rank 30 of 263 entries with frequency data.

## In TeXForm

TeXForm parses this entry as prefix syntax; the package determines its argument specification.

### [base/limits-drop](https://texform.dev/rules/base/limits-drop)

Drop explicit limits from an audited operator while preserving attached scripts.

Level: equiv. Fidelity: reading.

```latex
#1\limits
```

→

```latex
#1
```

```latex
\sin\limits
```

→

```latex
\sin
```

## See also

- [\\nolimits](https://texform.dev/latex/commands/nolimits)

## Test cases

### base

| Input | Case | MathJax | KaTeX | XeTeX |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| \sum\limits_{i=0}^n | Positive: ctx:after-sum | Pass | Pass | Pass |