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### 2.10 Footnotes

Org mode supports the creation of footnotes. In contrast to the `footnote.el` package, Org mode’s footnotes are designed for work on a larger document, not only for one-off documents like emails.

A footnote is started by a footnote marker in square brackets in column 0, no indentation allowed. It ends at the next footnote definition, headline, or after two consecutive empty lines. The footnote reference is simply the marker in square brackets, inside text. For example:

    The Org homepage[fn:1] now looks a lot better than it used to.
    ...
    [fn:1] The link is: http://orgmode.org

Org mode extends the number-based syntax to named footnotes and optional inline definition. Using plain numbers as markers (as `footnote.el` does) is supported for backward compatibility, but not encouraged because of possible conflicts with LaTeX snippets (see Embedded LaTeX). Here are the valid references:

`[1]`

  A plain numeric footnote marker. Compatible with `footnote.el`, but not recommended because something like ‘`[1]`’ could easily be part of a code snippet.

`[fn:name]`

  A named footnote reference, where `name` is a unique label word, or, for simplicity of automatic creation, a number.

`[fn:: This is the inline definition of this footnote]`

  A LaTeX-like anonymous footnote where the definition is given directly at the reference point.

`[fn:name: a definition]`

  An inline definition of a footnote, which also specifies a name for the note. Since Org allows multiple references to the same note, you can then use `[fn:name]` to create additional references.

Footnote labels can be created automatically, or you can create names yourself. This is handled by the variable `org-footnote-auto-label` and its corresponding `#+STARTUP` keywords. See the docstring of that variable for details.

The following command handles footnotes:

`C-c C-x f`

  The footnote action command.

  When the cursor is on a footnote reference, jump to the definition. When it is at a definition, jump to the (first) reference.

  Otherwise, create a new footnote. Depending on the option `org-footnote-define-inline` 24, the definition will be placed right into the text as part of the reference, or separately into the location determined by the option `org-footnote-section`.

  When this command is called with a prefix argument, a menu of additional options is offered:

      s   Sort the footnote definitions by reference sequence.  During editing,
          Org makes no effort to sort footnote definitions into a particular
          sequence.  If you want them sorted, use this command, which will
          also move entries according to org-footnote-section.  Automatic
          sorting after each insertion/deletion can be configured using the
          option org-footnote-auto-adjust.
      r   Renumber the simple fn:N footnotes.  Automatic renumbering
          after each insertion/deletion can be configured using the option
          org-footnote-auto-adjust.
      S   Short for first r, then s action.
      n   Normalize the footnotes by collecting all definitions (including
          inline definitions) into a special section, and then numbering them
          in sequence.  The references will then also be numbers.  This is
          meant to be the final step before finishing a document (e.g., sending
          off an email).
      d   Delete the footnote at point, and all definitions of and references
          to it.

  Depending on the variable `org-footnote-auto-adjust` 25, renumbering and sorting footnotes can be automatic after each insertion or deletion.

`C-c C-c`

  If the cursor is on a footnote reference, jump to the definition. If it is a the definition, jump back to the reference. When called at a footnote location with a prefix argument, offer the same menu as `C-c C-x f`.

`C-c C-o or mouse-1/2`

  Footnote labels are also links to the corresponding definition/reference, and you can use the usual commands to follow these links.

#### Footnotes

### (24)

The corresponding in-buffer setting is: `#+STARTUP: fninline` or `#+STARTUP: nofninline`

### (25)

the corresponding in-buffer options are `fnadjust` and `nofnadjust`.

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