How to write Position vector (arrow) in LaTeX?

The position or arrow vector is represented by a right arrow symbol over a letter or multiple-letter. In this tutorial, I will show you multiple methods to write position vectors or vector arrows in a LaTeX document.

Default command to get an arrow over a letter

To get a right arrow symbol over a letter you can use the default command \vec{}.

If you want to get the right arrow symbol over several letters at once, you can use the \overrightarrow{} command.

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
  \noindent Arrow symbol over a letter with \verb|\vec{}|:
  $$ \verb|\vec{a}| : \vec{a} $$
  $$ \verb|\vec{\dot{a}}| : \vec{\dot{a}} $$
  $$ \verb|\vec{\ddot{a}}| : \vec{\ddot{a}} $$
  $$ \verb|\vec{ab}| : \vec{ab} \quad \times $$
  $$ \verb|\vec{abc}| : \vec{abc} \quad \times $$
  Arrow symbol over multiple letter with \verb|\overrightarrow{}|:\\
  $$ \verb|\overrightarrow{a}| : \overrightarrow{a} $$
  $$ \verb|\overrightarrow{ab}| : \overrightarrow{ab} $$
  $$ \verb|\overrightarrow{abc}| : \overrightarrow{abc} $$

\end{document}

Output:

You can also use the \textbf{} command to get vector bold.

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}

  \noindent Vector bold with \verb|\textbf{}|:
  $$ \verb|\textbf{a}| : \textbf{a} $$
  $$ \verb|\textbf{ab}| : \textbf{ab} $$
  $$ \verb|\textbf{abc}| : \textbf{abc} $$
  $$ \verb|\textbf{a}\cdot\textbf{b}| : \textbf{a}\cdot\textbf{b} $$

\end{document}

Output:

Use esvect package to get an arrow over a letter

With the esvect package, you can get different styles of arrow symbols above letters. With this package, you get different right arrow symbols by using different options. The command is \vv{}.

Load package with \usepackage[<option>]{esvect}.

Package with option	Command	Output
[a]{esvect}	\vv{abc}
[b]{esvect}	\vv{abc}
[c]{esvect}	\vv{abc}
[d]{esvect}	\vv{abc}
[e]{esvect}	\vv{abc}
[f]{esvect}	\vv{abc}
[g]{esvect}	\vv{abc}
[h]{esvect}	\vv{abc}

Use mathabx package to get an arrow over a letter

The mathabx package also provides a \widearrow{} command to get an arrow symbol over several letters at once.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{mathabx}
\begin{document}

  $$ \verb|\widearrow{a}| : \widearrow{a} $$
  $$ \verb|\widearrow{ab}| : \widearrow{ab} $$
  $$ \verb|\widearrow{abc}| : \widearrow{abc} $$
  $$ \verb|\widearrow{abcd}| : \widearrow{abcd} $$

\end{document}

Output: