MathML

In computing, Mathematical Markup Language (MathML) is an application of XML that is used to render mathematics symbols and formulae, so that they can be presented in a familiar way in World Wide Web documents. It is a recommendation of the W3C math working group.

The specification of version 1.01 of the format was released in July 1999 and version 2.0 appeared in February 2001. In October 2003, the second edition of MathML Version 2.0 was published as the final release by the W3C math working group.

MathML deals not only with the presentation but can optionally also include information about the meaning of formula components. Another standard called OpenMath which has been designed more specifically for storing formulae semantically can also be used to complement MathML.

=Example=

The well-known quadratic formula: :x = frac{-b pm sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}

would be marked up using TeX syntax like this: x = frac{-b pm sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} and like this in MathML:

x = - b ± b 2 - 4 ⁢ a ⁢ c 2 ⁢ a

Although less compact compared to TeX, the XML structuring promises to make it widely usable and allows for instant display in applications such as Web browsers and facilitates a straightforward interpretation of its meaning in mathematical software products. MathML is not intended to be written or edited directly by humans.

=Software support=

Several utilities for converting mathematical expressions to MathML are available, including converters [http://pear.math.pitt.edu/mathzilla/itex2mml.html] between TeX and MathML. Also, Wolfram Research provides a utility to [http://www.mathmlcentral.com/Tools/ToMathML.jsp convert any mathematical expression to MathML].

Of the major web browsers, those that directly support the format are recent versions of plugin.

MathML is also supported by major office products such as Microsoft Word, OpenOffice.org and KOffice and by mathematical software products such as Mathematica.

=See also=

*List of document markup languages *Comparison of document markup languages

=External links=

*[http://www.w3.org/Math/ W3C Math Home] — Contains the specifications, a FAQ, and a list of supporting Software. *[http://www.w3.org/TR/MathML/ Latest MathML Recommendation] *[http://www.zvon.org/xxl/MathML/Output/index.html Zvon MathML Reference] *[http://www.mozilla.org/projects/mathml/ MathML in Mozilla] *[http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathplayer/ MathPlayer] — A plugin for Internet Explorer. *[http://www.mathmlcentral.com/ MathML Central] — Website containing utilities to display, plot, and convert any mathematical expression to and from MathML. *[http://www.openmath.org/cocoon/openmath/standard/index.html The OpenMath Standard] *[http://helm.cs.unibo.it/software/mml-widget/ GtkMathView] — A rendering engine for MathML markup *[http://pear.math.pitt.edu/mathzilla/itex2mmlItex.html Itex] - LaTeX-like language for generating MathML