TeX vs. LaTeX vs. pdfTeX vs. pdfLaTeX vs. MIKTEX

The following explanations are not exact, but hopefully provide a core understanding.

  1. TeX — The initial typesetting interpreter, which outputs DVI. 1
  2. LaTeX — TeX macro collection (for convenience). 2
  3. pdfTeX – A newer TeX interpreter, which also outputs PDF. 3
  4. pdfLaTeX – pdfTeX interpreter + Tex macro collection.
  5. MiKTeX – A TeX distribution, containing e.g. pdfLaTeX, LuaLaTeX and XeLaTeX. 4

1 Developed by Donald Knuth, released 1978.
2 Developed by Leslie Lamport, released 1984.
3 Developed by Hàn Thế Thành, released 1997.
4 Developed by Christian Schenk, released 1997.