TABLE OF CONTENTS This chapter gives an overview of the current support for MathML in Web browsers and provides information on authoring MathML documents for display on the Web. It also reviews the features of the leading Web browsers and add-on software available for rendering MathML.
It is currently possible to view MathML in most major Web browsers. The MathML markup must be embedded in an HTML (or XHTML) document that is then displayed in the browser window. For the MathML markup to be interpreted and displayed as properly formatted mathematical notation, there are two main options.
The first option is to use a MathML-aware browser that can interpret and render MathML natively, without the need to install any additional components. Currently, the main browsers that fit this description are Mozilla 1.0, Netscape 7.0, and Amaya. The second option is to use Microsoft IE or Netscape in combination with suitable add-on software. The add-on software can be in the form of a plug-in or ActiveX control like IBM techexplorer, an IE Behavior like MathPlayer, or a tool for rendering MathML with Java applets, like WebEQ.
For an author of a Web document containing MathML, the main consideration is that the document should be viewable on as wide a variety of browsers and platforms as possible and using any of the standard add-ons available for rendering MathML. Unfortunately, the exact form of the MathML markup and the details of how it is...
