Generate table of contents
AI creates a clickable, structured table of contents from your document — paste text, upload a file, or import from Google Docs.
No credit card required · Your document stays private
River's Table of Contents Generator builds a clickable, properly structured table of contents from your document's headings in seconds. It parses your heading hierarchy, repairs inconsistent nesting, and generates anchor links that jump straight to each section. Perfect for long technical documents, README files, ebooks, and documentation sites that readers need to navigate quickly.
Unlike maintaining a TOC by hand, River auto-generates it directly from your headings and keeps the links in sync. The AI understands document structure, creates proper multi-level nesting, and formats links correctly for markdown, HTML, or your exported document.
This tool is perfect for documentation writers, README maintainers, technical authors, and anyone creating long documents needing navigation.
Making Documents Navigable
Long documents need tables of contents for usability. TOCs let readers jump to relevant sections quickly. Always include TOC for documents over 1000 words or with multiple major sections.
A useful table of contents mirrors the document's real hierarchy. Use two or three levels at most - top-level sections with key sub-sections nested beneath them - so readers can scan the shape of the whole document without drowning in detail. Headings should be descriptive and parallel ('Setting up your account', 'Configuring billing') rather than vague ('Overview', 'More info'), because the TOC is often the first thing a reader scans to decide whether the document has what they need.
Where the TOC lives changes how you build it. For web pages and long-form articles, anchor links that jump to each section also help search engines understand structure and can earn jump-to links in search results. For ebooks and PDFs, the TOC doubles as the navigation menu, so every entry must map to a real bookmark. For internal docs and reports, a TOC at the top sets expectations and makes the document feel finished. River generates the right format for each and keeps the links in sync with your headings.
What You Get
Complete table of contents
Proper heading hierarchy
Clickable anchor links
Markdown or HTML format
Ready to add at document top
How It Works
- 1Give River your documentPaste text, upload a file, or import from Google Docs
- 2River analyzes structureAI detects headings, flags nesting issues, and recommends improvements
- 3Choose your optionsPick transmutation chips: clean nesting, add numbering, summarize sections
- 4Create River DocA full editable doc opens with your TOC inserted and ready to use
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a table of contents?
A table of contents (TOC) is an organized list of a document's sections and headings, usually placed at the start, that shows the document's structure and lets readers jump to the part they need. In digital documents the entries are clickable links; in print they're paired with page numbers. River generates a clickable, properly nested TOC from your headings automatically.
How do you create a table of contents?
To create a table of contents, list each section heading in the order it appears, nest sub-sections under their parent headings (two to three levels works best), and link each entry to its section with an anchor or page number. Keep headings descriptive and parallel so the TOC is easy to scan. River builds this automatically: paste your text, upload a DOCX or PDF, or import a Google Doc, and it detects the headings, fixes the hierarchy, and inserts clickable links.
Does this work with markdown headings?
Yes. Recognizes markdown (#, ##, ###) and HTML headings (<h1>, <h2>, <h3>). Generates appropriate TOC format for your document type.
Are the links clickable?
Yes. Generates proper anchor links that work in markdown viewers, GitHub, documentation sites, and web browsers. Links jump to corresponding sections.
What if my document structure changes?
Regenerate TOC when adding or removing sections. Some documentation tools auto-generate TOCs. For manual docs, regenerate whenever structure changes significantly.
What file types can I upload?
DOCX (Word), PDF, Markdown (.md), HTML, and plain text (.txt). Files are processed securely and never stored after your session.
Can I import from Google Docs?
Yes. Paste a share link to any public Google Doc (set to 'Anyone with the link can view') and River will import the content and generate your TOC.
What is River?
River is an AI-powered document editor that helps you write better, faster. With intelligent writing assistance, real-time collaboration, and powerful AI tools, River transforms how professionals create content.
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