# LaTeX Commands
Mathfields support over **800** LaTeX commands.
**To find the name of the LaTeX command matching the shape of a symbol you can draw**, use **Detexify**
**To enter a LaTeX command in mathfield** press the ESC key or \\
to enter LaTeX editing mode. Press ESC to exit LaTeX editing mode.
**To examine the LaTeX code for an expression**, select it, then press ESC.
The most common symbols can be entered using **keyboard shortcuts**.
## Text Zone, Math Zone and Math Style
### Math Zone
When in a **Math Zone**, the content is laid out using typesetting rules specific
to math.
For example, variables such as $x$ are displayed in italics, an appropriate amount
of space is inserted around some letters such as $ f $ to improve their legibility,
and white spaces are ignored.
In a Math Zone, the layout and size of some math elements is adjusted based on the
context in which they are used. For example, superscripts and subscripts are
displayed using a smaller font size: $ 2^2 $.
Inside a Math Zone, the **Math Style** indicate the size of the font used to display
the content, and some layout options, such as placement of the limits of a sum or
integral.
**To override the default _Math Style_**, use the following commands:
| Math Style | | | |
| :---- | :---- | :--- | :--- |
| `\displaystyle`
For equations in their own paragraph/block | `\displaystyle \sum_{i=0}^n \frac{a_i}{1+x}` | $$\displaystyle \sum_{i=0}^n \frac{a_i}{1+x} $$ |
| `\textstyle`
Confusingly, for **inline math**, not for text content| `\textstyle \sum_{i=0}^n \frac{a_i}{1+x}` | $$\textstyle \sum_{i=0}^n \frac{a_i}{1+x} $$ |
| `\scriptstyle`
For subscripts and superscripts| `\scriptstyle \sum_{i=0}^n \frac{a_i}{1+x}` | $$\scriptstyle \sum_{i=0}^n \frac{a_i}{1+x} $$ |
| `\scriptscriptstyle`
For subscripts and superscripts of subscripts and superscripts| `\scriptscriptstyle \sum_{i=0}^n \frac{a_i}{1+x}` | $$\scriptscriptstyle \sum_{i=0}^n \frac{a_i}{1+x} $$ |
### Text Zone
**To include some textual content**, use the `\text{}` or `\textrm{}` commands to switch
to a **Text Zone**. Inside a Text Zone, white spaces are preserved and the spacing of characters is not adjusted.
The `\text{}` command will use the font defined by the CSS `font-family` property
of the enclosing mathfield. The size of the text will adjust depending on
the current math style (smaller in superscript/subscript).
---
The `\textrm{}` command works like `\text{}` but will use a serif (roman) font.
---
The `\mbox{}` command uses the same font as `\text` but its size does not
account for the current math style.
---
The `\textnormal{}` command works like `\text{}`. But it's longer to type.
When in a Text Zone, use `$...$` to switch back to an Inline Math Zone or `\\[...\\]` to switch
to a Display (block) Math Zone.
## Fractions and Binomials
The `\frac` command is used to represent a fraction. The first argument is the numerator,
the second argument is the denominator. It will size itself according to the
current math style (display, text (inline), script, scriptscript). The `\dfrac` and
`\tfrac` commands force the math style to be display or text (inline) style respectively.
The `\cfrac` (continuous fraction) command has an optional argument, `[l]` or
`[r]`, that controls if the numerator is left-aligned or right-aligned.
The `\pdiff` command is a convenient shortcut for partial differentials.
---
The `\binom` command is used to represent a binomial coefficient. The `\dbinom` and
`\tbinom` commands force the math style to be display or text (inline) style respectively.
:::warning[Deprecated]
The following commands are supported but their usage is generally discouraged
when creating modern LaTeX content.
:::
## Binary Operators
Some binary operators can also be used as a unary operator: `+`, `-`, etc...
Their spacing is adjusted accordingly. For example in \\( -1-2 \\)
there is less space between `-` and `1` than there is between `-` and `2`.
## Functions
### Trigonometry
### Non-Standard Trig Functions
The commands in this section are not part of the standard LaTeX distribution
but are available in some packages. Use them with caution as they may not
be supported by all LaTeX engines. Consider using `\operatorname{}` instead.
### Bounds
### Projections
### Modulo
### Custom Functions
**To define a custom function** use the `\operatorname{}` command: the name of the function will be displayed in upright
font and with the appropriate spacing.
## Unicode
If a symbol is not available as a LaTeX command, you can use the Unicode codepoint
of the character. The commands below can be used to insert a Unicode character in a mathfield.
| Command | |
| :--- | :--- |
| `\unicode{}` | The argument is a Unicode codepoint expressed as a number. To use a hexadecimal number, start the argument with `x` or `"` and use **uppercase** `A`-`F` for hexadecimal digits.
- $$\Large\unicode{10775} $$ `\unicode{10775}`
- $$\Large\unicode{"2A17}$$ `\unicode{"2A17}`
- $$\Large\unicode{x2A17}$$ `\unicode{x2A17}`
|
| `\char` | The argument is also a Unicode codepoint, but the `{`...`}` delimiters are optional when using `"`.
- $$\Large\char"2A17 $$ `\char"2A17`
|
| `^^`
`^^^^` | Followed by 2 or 4 hexadecimal digits with **lowercase** `a`-`f` to specify a Unicode codepoint.
- $$\Large^^4a $$ `^^4a`
- $$\Large^^^^2a17 $$ `^^^^2a17`
|
| `\limits` | `\nolimits` | `\displaylimits` |
| :---- | :---- | :---- |
| $$\sum_{i=0}^n\limits $$ | $$\sum_{i=0}^n\nolimits $$ | $$\sum_{i=0}^n\displaylimits $$ |
| `\sum_{i=0}^n\limits` | `\sum_{i=0}^n\nolimits` | `\sum_{i=0}^n\displaylimits` |
| $$\int_0^\infty\limits $$ | $$\int_0^\infty\nolimits $$ | $$\int_0^\infty\displaylimits $$ |
| `\int_0^\infty\limits` | `\int_0^\infty\nolimits` | `\int_0^\infty\displaylimits` |
In Display Style, the `\intop` and `\ointop` commands display their limits
above and below by default, while the `\int` command display its limit adjacent.
----
## Logic
### Quantifiers
### Unary/Binary Operators
### Relational Operators
## Arrows
### Negated Arrows
### Extensible Arrows
The length of the arrow commands above is fixed. The length of the commands
in this section is determined by the length of the content above and below
the arrows, which is specified as an argument (and optional argument):
## Accents
### Deprecated Accents
:::warning[Deprecated]
The following commands are supported for compatibility with existing content,
but their use is generally discouraged when creating new LaTeX content
when an equivalent Unicode character is available.
For example use `é` rather than `\'{e}`.
:::
### Extensible Accents
Regular accents have a fixed width and do not stretch. For example, compare:
## Relational Operators
To display a vertical "stack" of two symbols as a relational operator, use the
`\stackrel` command: $$a\stackrel{?}{=}b $$ `a\stackrel{?}{=}b`.
### Negated Relational Operators
To negate other relational operators, use the `\not` command, e.g.
\\( \not\equiv \\) `\not\equiv`.
## Sets
**To represent sets such as the natural numbers, integers, real numbers, etc.,** use the `\mathbb` command for best compatibility, e.g.
`\mathbb{N}` $ \mathbb{N} $ or `\mathbb{C}` $ \mathbb{C} $, etc...
Non standard commands, may not be supported by all LaTeX engines:
### Set Operators
### Relational Set Operators
## Greek
---
## Hebrew
## Letterlike Symbols
## Delimiters
A delimiter, also called a **fence**, is a symbol used to group some symbols, for example parentheses, brackets, braces, etc...
To grow delimiters based on their content, use `\left...\right`.
| Regular delimiters | `\left...\right` |
| :---- | :---- |
| $$\lbrace x \| \frac{x}{2} > 0\rbrace $$ | $$\left\lbrace x \middle\| \frac{x}{2} > 0\right\rbrace $$ |
| `\lbrace x \| \frac{x}{2} > 0\rbrace` | `\left\lbrace x \middle\| \frac{x}{2} > 0\right\rbrace` |
The left and right delimiters do not have to match:
* \\(\displaystyle \left\lparen \frac1x \right\rbrack\\) `\left\lparen \frac1x \right\rbrack`
To omit a delimiter, use `.`:
* \\(\displaystyle \left\lparen \frac1x \right.\\) `\left\lparen \frac1x \right.`
---
The argument to `\left`, `\right` and `\middle` can be one of the
following commands.
## Punctuation
### Dots
## Shapes
---
---
---
---
## St Mary's Road Symbols for Theoretical Computer Science
## Layout
These commands change the amount of space around a symbol: `\mathop{}`
treats its argument as if it was a large operator, `\mathrel{}` a
relational operator, `\mathbin{}` a binary operator, `\mathopen{}` and `\mathclose{}` an opening and closing delimiter, respectively, `\mathpunct{}` a punctuation, `\mathinner{}` a fraction, and `\mathord{}` an ordinary symbol
---
## Spacing
## Decorations
### Notations
#### `\enclose`
The `\enclose` command is very flexible. It accepts three arguments, two of
which are required:
```latex
\enclose{}[
\class{custom-CSS-class}{\frac{1}{x+1}}
```
#### `\cssId{id}{expression}`
Apply an element ID to the expression. The element can then be styled using CSS.
```css
#custom-CSS-class {
box-shadow: 0 0 4px #999;
border-radius: 8px;
padding: 8px;
}
```
#### `\htmlData{key=value,...}{content}`
The argument of this command is a comma-delimited list of key/value pairs, e.g.
`\htmlData{foo=green,bar=blue}{x=0}`. A corresponding
`foo` and `bar` DOM attributes are attached to the rendered DOM element.
#### `\href{url}{content}`
The first argument is a URL, the second argument is the content to display, in math mode.
```html example
\href{https://mathlive.io}{\text{MathLive website}}
```
### Other Extensions
#### `\error{content}`
The argument of this command is a string that will be rendered with a red
background and a red underline.
#### `\texttip{expression}{hover text}`
The first argument is a math expression to display, the second argument is the text to
display on hover.
#### `\mathtip{expression}{hover math expression}`
The first argument is a math expression to display, the second argument is the
math expression to display on hover.
### Others
:::warning[Deprecated]
The following commands are supported for compatibility with existing content,
but their use is generally discouraged when creating new LaTeX content
:::
## Sizing
In LaTeX using the sizing commands below may not always achieve the expected
result. In mathfields, the sizing commands are applied consistently to text
and math mode.
These size are relative to the `font-size` property of the mathfield.
The size of delimiters can be controlled manually with the commands below. The `\left...\right...` commands calculate automatically the size of the
delimiters based on the content.
:::warning
**The command must be followed by a delimiter**, for example `(` or `\lbrace` or `\lbrack`. If the command is used on its own, nothing is displayed.
:::
## Various
## MediaWiki (`texvc.sty` package)
Mathfields support the commands used by [MediaWiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Displaying_a_formula) pages, except for the deprecated ones.
## Physics
### Braket Notation
Mathfields support the commands of the [`braket` package](https://ctan.org/pkg/braket)
## Chemistry (`mhchem` package)
Mathfields support the commands of the [`mhchem` package](https://mhchem.github.io/MathJax-mhchem/).
### Chemical Formulas
### Charges
### Stoichiometric numbers
### Isotopes
### Complex Examples
## Macros
## Environments / Matrixes
Environments are used to typeset a set of related items, for example cells
in a matrix, or multi-line equations.
Each row in a tabular environment is separated by a `\\` command.
Each column is separated by a `&`.
### Matrixes
#### `array`
A simple table with no delimiters.
{`
\\begin{array}{lc}
a + 1 & b + 1 \\\\
c & \\frac{1}{d}
\\end{array}
`}
The `{lc}` argument specifies how many columns there are and how they should be
formated:
* `l`: left-aligned
* `c`: centered
* `r`: right-aligned
**To add a vertical line separating columns**, add a `|` character in the column format:
{`
\\begin{array}{l|c}
a + 1 & b + 1 \\\\
c & \\frac{1}{d}
\\end{array}
`}
**To add a double vertical line separating columns**, add two `|` characters in the
column format:
{`
\\begin{array}{l||c}
a + 1 & b + 1 \\\\
c & \\frac{1}{d}
\\end{array}
`}
**To add a dashed vertical line between two columns**, use `:`:
{`
\\begin{array}{l:c}
a + 1 & b + 1 \\\\
c & \\frac{1}{d}
\\end{array}
`}
#### `matrix`
The `matrix` environment is very similar to `array`, but it does not have an
argument to specify the format of the columns.
{`
\\begin{matrix}
a + 1 & b + 1 \\\\
c & \\frac{1}{d}
\\end{matrix}
`}
**To specify the format of the columns**, use the starred version and an optional
argument. This applies to all the other `matrix` environments.
{`
\\begin{matrix*}[l|r]
a + 1 & b + 1 \\\\
c & \\frac{1}{d}
\\end{matrix}
`}
#### `pmatrix`
A matrix with **parentheses** as delimiters.
{`
\\begin{pmatrix}
a + 1 & b + 1 \\\\
c & \\frac{1}{d}
\\end{pmatrix}
`}
#### `bmatrix`
A matrix with **square brackets** as delimiters.
{`
\\begin{bmatrix}
a + 1 & b + 1 \\\\
c & \\frac{1}{d}
\\end{bmatrix}
`}
#### `Bmatrix`
A matrix with **braces** (curly brackets) as delimiters.
{`
\\begin{Bmatrix}
a + 1 & b + 1 \\\\
c & \\frac{1}{d}
\\end{Bmatrix}
`}
#### `vmatrix`
A matrix with **single bars** as delimiters.
{`
\\begin{vmatrix}
a + 1 & b + 1 \\\\
c & \\frac{1}{d}
\\end{vmatrix}
`}
#### `Vmatrix`
A matrix with **double bars** as delimiters.
{`
\\begin{Vmatrix}
a + 1 & b + 1 \\\\
c & \\frac{1}{d}
\\end{Vmatrix}
`}
#### `smallmatrix`
A matrix typeset in a way that may be suitable on the same line as text.
{`
\\begin{smallmatrix}
a + 1 & b + 1 \\\\
c & \\frac{1}{d}
\\end{smallmatrix}
`}
### Other Environments
#### `cases`, `dcases` and `rcases`
Use these environments to write piecewise functions:
{`
f(n) = \\begin{cases}
1 & \\text{if } n = 0 \\\\
f(n-1) + f(n-2) & \\text{if } n \\ge 2
\\end{cases}
`}
**To typeset the content in Display style**, use `dcases` instead:
{`
f(n) = \\begin{dcases}
1 & \\text{if } n = 0 \\\\
f(n-1) + f(n-2) & \\text{if } n \\ge 2
\\end{dcases}
`}
**To display the brace on the right**, use `rcases`.
{`
f(n) = \\begin{rcases}
1 & \\text{if } n = 0 \\\\
f(n-1) + f(n-2) & \\text{if } n \\ge 2
\\end{rcases}
`}
#### `gather`
Consecutive equations without alignment
{`
\\begin{gather}
3(a-x) = 3.5x + a - 1 \\\\
3a - 3x = 3.5x + a - 1 \\\\
a = \\frac{13}{4} , x - \\frac{1}{2}
\\end{gather}
`}
#### `multline`
The first line is left aligned, the last line is right aligned, and all the
intermediate lines are centered.
{`
\\begin{multline}
3(a-x) = 3.5x + a - 1 \\\\
3a - 3x = 3.5x + a - 1 \\\\
a = \\frac{13}{4}x - \\frac{1}{2}
\\end{multline}
`}
#### `align`
{`
\\begin{align}
f(x) & = (a+b)^2 \\\\
& = a^2+2ab+b^2 \\\\
\\end{align}
`}
#### Others
{`
\\begin{math}
x+\\frac12
\\end{math}
`}
{`
\\begin{displaymath}
x+\\frac12
\\end{displaymath}
`}
{`
\\begin{equation}
x+\\frac12
\\end{equation}
`}
{`
\\begin{subequations}
x+\\frac12
\\end{subequations}
`}
{`
\\begin{eqnarray}
x+\\frac12
\\end{eqnarray}
`}
Avoid `center`, use `align` instead.
{`
\\begin{center}
\\text{first}
\\end{center}
`}
The following environments do not form a math environment by themselves but
can be used as building blocks for more elaborate structures:
{`
\\begin{gathered}3(a-x) = 3.5x + a - 1 \\\\
3a - 3x = 3.5x + a - 1 \\\\
a = \\frac{13}{4}x - \\frac{1}{2}
\\end{gathered}
`}
{`
\\begin{split}3(a-x) = 3.5x + a - 1 \\\\
3a - 3x = 3.5x + a - 1 \\\\
a = \\frac{13}{4}x - \\frac{1}{2}
\\end{split}
`}
{`
\\begin{aligned}3(a-x) = 3.5x + a - 1 \\\\
3a - 3x = 3.5x + a - 1 \\\\
a = \\frac{13}{4}x - \\frac{1}{2}
\\end{aligned}
`}
## TeX Registers
The math typesetting is influenced by some "constants" that are stored
in "registers". Those registers can be set globally on a mathfield using
the `mf.registers` property.
| Register | Purpose |
| :--- | :--- |
| `arrayrulewidth` | Width of separator lines in array environments |
| `arraycolsep` | Amount of space between separator lines |
| `arraystretch` | Stretch factor between rows in an environment |
| `delimitershortfall` | |
| `doublerulesep` | Amount of space between adjacent separator lines |
| `jot` | Vertical space between the lines for all math expressions which allow multiple lines |
| `fboxrule` | Default width of the border with commands such as `\boxed` or `\fbox` |
| `fboxsep` | Default padding between a box and its content |
| `medmuskip` | Amount of space around a binary operator. See also `thinmuskip`, `thickmuskip`. |
| `nulldelimiterspace` | Horizontal space of an empty delimiter |
| `thickmuskip` | Amount of space around a relational operator. See also `medmuskip`, `thinmuskip`. |
| `thinmuskip` | Amount of space around math punctuation. See also `medmuskip`, `thickmuskip`. |
## TeX Primitives
The commands below are TeX primitives. Most are only useful when writing
TeX packages or macros.
| Command | |
| :--- | :--- |
| `%` | Anything after a `%` character and an end of line character is interpreted as a comment and ignored|
| `\limits`
`\nolimits` | |
| `\relax` | |
| `\noexpand` | |
| `\obeyspaces` | In Math Mode, spaces are normally ignored. Using this command spaces will be preserved even in Math Mode. |
| `\bgroup`
`\egroup` | Begin/End group, synonym for open/close brace |
| `\string` | |
| `\csname`
`\endcsname` | Turn the next tokens, until `\endcsname`, into a command |
| `\ensuremath{}` | If in Math Mode, does nothing. Otherwise, switch to Math Mode. |