MathJax Output Formats

Currently, MathJax can render math in three ways:

  • Using HTML and CSS to lay out the mathematics,

  • Using Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) to lay out the mathematics, or

  • As a serialized MathML string.

The first two are implemented by the CommonHTML and SVG output processors. The third is a consequence of the fact that MathJax uses MathML as its internal format. While MathJax version 2 included a NativeMML output processor that produced MathML notation for those browsers that support it, this has been dropped from version 3. See the MathML Support section for more information on how to get MathML output.

If you are using one of the combined component files, then this will select one of these output processors for you. If the component file ends in -chtml, then it is the CommonHTML output processor, while if it ends in -svg then the SVG output processor will be used.

If you are performing your own in-line or file-based configuration, you select which one you want to use by including either 'output/chtml' or 'output/svg' in the load array of the loader section of your MathJax configuration. For example

window.MathJax = {
  loader: {load: ["input/tex", "output/chtml"]}
};

would specify TeX input and CommonHTML output for the mathematics in your document.

Warning

The PreviewHTML, PlainSource, and NativeMML output formats from version 2 are not available in version 3. These may be available in future releases if there is demand for them.

More Information