MathML

Mathematical Markup Language (MathML) is a special way to write math on computers using a language called XML. XML helps organize information so programs can understand it easily. MathML was created so that math equations can be shown correctly on websites and in documents just like regular text.

MathML is part of HTML5, the system used to build modern websites. Since 2015, it has been an official standard created by groups called ISO and IEC. This means many web browsers and tools can read MathML and display beautiful math formulas for everyone to see.

You can learn more about how to use MathML on Wikipedia by visiting Help:Displaying a formula. MathML makes sharing and viewing math much easier, whether you’re reading a science article or solving problems for school.

History

MathML, a way to show math on the web, started in April 1998 when the first version was released. It was made to help put math formulas into web pages. Over time, new versions came out, with the latest big update in October 2010.

In 2021, a simpler version called MathML Core was made to help web browsers show math better. This version works well with CSS, a way to style web pages, and has rules to make sure it works across different browsers.

Presentation and semantics

MathML is a special language for showing math problems and equations on the internet. It can show the math and also explain what the math means. This helps everyone, even people who use special tools to read the computer, understand the math.

MathML has two parts. One part, called Presentation MathML, shows how the math looks. It uses special tags to build up the math, like putting numbers and symbols in rows or making fractions. The other part, called Content MathML, explains what the math means. It uses tags to show the meaning of each part of the math, like how numbers and operations work together. This makes MathML very useful for sharing math on the web.

Example

The quadratic formula can be shown in a special way using MathML. This helps computers understand and show math problems clearly on websites.

MathML can also hold the formula in different formats, like the one used by StarMath or LaTeX, so many programs can use it. Even though it might not be the shortest way to write math, MathML makes it easy for computers to display and work with math. People usually don’t write MathML by hand; computers help create it.

Embedding MathML in HTML/XHTML files

MathML, which is a type of XML, can be placed inside other XML files like XHTML files by using special naming rules for XML.

MathML can also be used directly in HTML5 files without needing special naming rules that were required in XHTML.

Embedding MathML in OpenDocument Office Suite files

MathML works well with the OpenDocument Format, which is used by LibreOffice, Collabora Online, and other office tools. Files like .odt, .ods, and .odp can include MathML inside special XML elements.

Microsoft Office does not naturally support MathML in its own file types like .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx. Instead, it uses its own way to show math. When saving equations as OpenDocument files, Microsoft Office might turn them into pictures that cannot be changed later. There are ways around this, such as updating Word, using the right settings, and choosing the "Save as MathML" option.

Other standards

Another standard called OpenMath helps store math formulas in a special way. It can work together with MathML, a way to show math on websites. OpenMath is also part of the OpenDocument office suite, which lets you add math to documents. Some office programs like LibreOffice and Collabora Online use MathML, while OpenMath is not used in Microsoft's document formats.

The OMDoc format is used for marking up bigger math ideas, like definitions, theorems, and even whole books. These can be written in either Content MathML or OpenMath and then changed to Presentation MathML for showing them.