contents vs table of contents

contents and table of contents both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
contents	Yes	No	No	No
table of contents	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, contents and table of contents are synonyms defined as:

contents and table of contents: a list of divisions (chapters or articles) and the pages on which they start

contents (noun)	table of contents (noun)
a list of divisions (chapters or articles) and the pages on which they start	a list of divisions (chapters or articles) and the pages on which they start
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something