MathML: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

MathML ("Mathematical Markup Language") is an XML-based markup language that is used to describe mathematical symbols and formulas, so that they can be presented in a familiar way in 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 also with the meaning of formula components. The format is rather verbose and it is inconvenient to produce MathML formulas by hand; several utilities for doing so are available, including converters between TeX and MathML.

Of the major web browsers, those that directly support the format are recent versions of Mozilla and Netscape Navigator. Other browsers support the format if external plugins are installed. For example, Internet Explorer supports MathML with a MathPlayer plugin.

MathML is also supported by major office products such as Microsoft Word and OpenOffice.

A system for marking up mathematical semantics, intended to complement MathML, is also under development. It is called OpenMath.