mathml element

<math>

The <math> MathML element is the top-level MathML element, used to write a single mathematical formula. It can be placed in HTML content where flow content is permitted.

[!NOTE] See the Authoring MathML page for tips to properly integrate MathML formulas in your web pages and the Guides page for more demos.

Attributes

This element’s attributes include the global MathML attributes as well as the following attribute:

display
- : This enumerated attribute specifies how the enclosed MathML markup should be rendered. It can have one of the following values:
  - block, which means that this element will be displayed in its own block outside the current span of text and with math-style set to normal.
  - inline, which means that this element will be displayed inside the current span of text and with math-style set to compact.
  If not present, its default value is inline.

Accessibility

The <math> element has an implicit math ARIA role. Assistive technologies can use this role to identify the content as a mathematical expression and convey it to users.

html,
body {
  height: 100%;
}

body {
  display: grid;
  place-items: center;
  font-size: 1.5rem;
}

For example, screen readers will represent the following quadratic formula similar to:

x equals fraction start, negative b plus or minus square root of b squared minus 4 a c, end of root, over 2 a, end of fraction, maths

Markup for the quadratic formula

<math display="block">
  <mrow>
    <mi>x</mi>
    <mo>=</mo>
    <mfrac>
      <mrow>
        <mrow>
          <mo>−</mo>
          <mi>b</mi>
        </mrow>
        <mo>±</mo>
        <msqrt>
          <mrow>
            <msup>
              <mi>b</mi>
              <mn>2</mn>
            </msup>
            <mo>−</mo>
            <mrow>
              <mn>4</mn>
              <mo>⁢</mo>
              <mi>a</mi>
              <mo>⁢</mo>
              <mi>c</mi>
            </mrow>
          </mrow>
        </msqrt>
      </mrow>
      <mrow>
        <mn>2</mn>
        <mo>⁢</mo>
        <mi>a</mi>
      </mrow>
    </mfrac>
  </mrow>
</math>

Interactive exampleOpen the canonical MDN source to run this embedded demo.

Examples

This example contains two MathML formula. The first one is rendered in its own centered block, taking as much space as needed. The second one is rendered inside the paragraph of text, with reduced size and spacing in order to minimize its height.

<p>
  The infinite sum
  <math display="block">
    <mrow>
      <munderover>
        <mo>∑</mo>
        <mrow>
          <mi>n</mi>
          <mo>=</mo>
          <mn>1</mn>
        </mrow>
        <mrow>
          <mo>+</mo>
          <mn>∞</mn>
        </mrow>
      </munderover>
      <mfrac>
        <mn>1</mn>
        <msup>
          <mi>n</mi>
          <mn>2</mn>
        </msup>
      </mfrac>
    </mrow>
  </math>
  is equal to the real number
  <math display="inline">
    <mfrac>
      <msup>
        <mi>π</mi>
        <mn>2</mn>
      </msup>
      <mn>6</mn>
    </mfrac>
  </math>
  .
</p>

Interactive exampleOpen the canonical MDN source to run this embedded demo.

Technical summary

Implicit ARIA role	`math`

Specifications

SpecificationsStandards references are available on the canonical MDN page.

Browser compatibility

Browser compatibilityCompatibility data is available on the canonical MDN page.