The author's preface is a preface written by the author himself, which is generally used to explain the idea, significance, main contents, key points and characteristics of the book, readers, relevant writing process and situation, arrangement and style, scope of application, readers' reading suggestions, explanations on the revision of reprints, and introductions and thanks from people who assisted in writing. Its title usually uses "preface" or "preface", and the simpler author's preface sometimes uses "preface" When there is another preface written by a non-author, it can be distinguished by preface, preface or author's preface. The preface written by the original author of the translation book specially for the Chinese translation, entitled "Preface to the Chinese Translation", usually comes before the table of contents, and if its content is directly coherent with the text, it can also come after the table of contents.

The non-author preface is the preface written by the author inviting famous experts or institutions to write this book. The content is generally to recommend works, evaluate works realistically, and introduce the author or people and things involved in the book. Its title is "preface" or "preface", and the author's name is attached. Non-author preface usually precedes the table of contents and author preface. If it is written for a series, it is also before the preface of the series.

The preface of a translator usually focuses on the translation intention, and some also include some transactional explanations in the translation process. Generally, the title is "translator's preface", and the simpler content can also be titled "translator's preface" or "translator's words", which usually comes before the catalogue.