scope:

Overview

MathML is a markup language for describing mathematics. It is usually expressed in XML syntax, although HTML and other syntaxes are possible. A special aspect of MathML is that there are two main strains of markup: Presentation markup, discussed in Chapter 3, is used to display mathematical expressions; and Content markup, discussed in Chapter 4, is used to convey mathematical meaning. Content markup is specified in particular detail. This specification makes use of an XML format called Content Dictionaries This format has been developed by the OpenMath Society, [OpenMath2004] with the dictionaries being used by this specification involving joint development by the OpenMath Society and the W3C Math Working Group.

Fundamentals common to both strains of markup are covered in Chapter 2, while the means for combining these strains, as well as external markup, into single MathML objects are discussed in Chapter 5. How MathML interacts with applications is covered in Chapter 6. Finally, a discussion of special symbols, and issues regarding characters, entities and fonts, is given in Chapter 7.