table of contents vs contents

table of contents and contents both are nouns.

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

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

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

table of contents (noun)	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