AsciiMath

ASCIIMathML is a client-side mathematical markup language for displaying mathematical expressions in web browsers.

Using the JavaScript script ASCIIMathML.js, ASCIIMathML markup is converted to MathML at the time the page is loaded by the browser, natively in Mozilla Firefox and via a plug-in in IE7. The simplified markup language supports a subset of the LaTeX language instructions, as well as a much less verbose syntax (which, for example, replaces "\times" with "xx" to produce the "×" symbol). Both syntaxes are vastly less verbose than the raw MathML. The resulting MathML mathematics can be styled by applying CSS to class "mstyle".

The script ASCIIMathML.js is freely available under the GNU Lesser General Public License. The latest version also includes support for SVG graphics, natively in Mozilla Firefox and via a plug-in in IE7.

Per May 2009 there is a new version available. This new version still contains the original ASCIIMathML and LaTeXMathML as developed by Peter Jipsen, but the ASCIIsvg part has been extended with linear-logarithmic, logarithmic-linear, logarithmic-logarithmic, polar graphs and pie charts, normal and stacked bar charts, different functions like integration and differentiation and a series of event trapping functions, buttons and sliders, in order to create interactive lecture material and exams online in web pages.

Although it is not easy to write complex math expressions and various symbols in ASCIIMathML due to its simplicity and restriction, writing Math expressions in ASCIIMath format can be a quick and practical approach in many cases such as Wolfram Alpha and Google search field.

MathMagic, a WYSIWYG equation editor, supports ASCIIMath and ASCIIMathML so user can write some complex equations in MathMagic to get ASCIIMathML output.

See also

• Google Chart API
• MathJax
• MathMagic - reads and writes ASCIIMathML and ASCIIMath. Converts LaTeX and MathML to/from ASCIIMathML.

External links

• ASCIIMathML Homepage
• www.asciimathml.com