Formula editor explained

A formula editor is a computer program that is used to typeset mathematical formulas and mathematical expressions.

Formula editors typically serve two purposes:

Content for formula editors can be provided manually using a markup language, e.g. TeX or MathML, via a point-and-click GUI, or as computer generated results from symbolic computations such as Mathematica.

Typical features include the ability to nest fractions, radicals, superscripts, subscripts, overscripts and underscripts together with special characters such as mathematical symbols, arrows and scalable parentheses.

Some systems are capable of re-formatting formulae into simpler forms or to adjust line-breaking automatically, while preserving the mathematical meaning of a formula.

Available systems

NameKeyboard inputGUI inputHandwriting recognitionTeX supportMathML supportRaster export Automatic expression layoutComputation supportPlatformNotesOutput formatsOpen source
AibaseWindowsDiagramming with formula editor for UnicodeMathMathML, SVG
Alfred's Equation Editor (AlfredEq)Flash Player An embedded app to edit mathematical expressions on CMS/LMS/Blog web pages.
Atito Equation EditorAndroidFormula editor combined with embedded solver, graphsLaTeX, PDF, PNG
AxMathWindowsAxMath is an interactive WYSIWYG formula editor which has a scrollable symbol panel and supports semantic math input.PNG, JPG, GIF, TIFF, EMF, LaTeX
AuroraMicrosoft Office addon. Renders using TeX.
Auto-Latex Equations for Google Docs Install Actively updated Google Docs add-on. Renders using TeX. Install
Calcinator Math EditorWeb, iOSWeb GUI generates pure HTML math and LaTeXHTML, LaTeXNo
CassiopeiaMac OS XScientific Wordprocessing for Mac OS X
CodeCogs Equation EditorWebProduces HTML and graphics for inclusion of equations in any website. Can download graphics in various formats for use in reports and publications. Plugins for CK Editor, Tiny MCE, etc.PNG, JPG, SVG, SWF, EMF, MathML, LaTeX, URL
CodeCogs Excel RenderMS ExcelAdd-in to convert formulas into equations. Works offline and can also request 100% LaTaX from the online CodeCogs servers.
Collabora Office Math[1] Online and Windows, Linux, MacTool to create formulae that can be embedded inside other suite documentspng, jpg, pdf, html, xml, OLE. EPUB math-objects are not included in EPUB yet.
Daum Equation EditorChrome browser, MacFree Math equation editor for Chrome browser and Mac PNG, LaTeX
EQ EditoriOSiOS native app. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/eq-editor/id468981237] PDF, PNG, MathML, LaTeX
DragMathJava applet. Open source. supports AsciiMathML. Integrations with a VLE such as Moodle.MathML, LaTeX
WebEQ Equation EditorWebA Design Science product that has reached End of Life; replaced with MathFlow Software Development Kit
Equation Maker for MacMacAvailable on Mac App StorePDF, PNG
Equation Notepad for AndroidFor the Android mobile operating system. Can export LaTeX.
EqualX Equation EditorWindows, LinuxEasy to use for beginners and advanced users. Highly customisable interface.EPS, PS, PNG, JPG, PDF, SVG, TEX
FiremathAddon for the Firefox web browser.
Formula Sheet Equation EditorOnline LaTeX equation editor with real-time .png, .pdf, and .tex output. Customizable resolution, font, and color. One click copy to MS Word 2007+ using MathML.
Formulator MathML WeaverDual-licensing (Open source and commercial). There is a special edition that works within a browser (using Silverlight plugin).
FxSolverWebFree. Registration needed only to share worksheets.PDF
IguanaTexFree PowerPoint plugin for inserting LaTeX equations
iMathEQ editorWeb (Win, Mac, iOS, Android)iMathEQ editor is an online WYSIWYG formula editor which can be easily integrated with online systems, like learning management systemPNG, MathML, SVG, LaTeX
JexDesigned to insert and edit equations in Openoffice
KetCross-platform (Java)Ket provides commands to enable the user to solve back-of-the-envelope calculations.ket, txt, png (single or sequence), LaTeX, HTML
KFormula
LaTeX4technicsWebInteractive online WYSIWYG LaTeX editor. Over 400 math symbols. Various helper programs e.g. for matrix input or colouring. Autocompletion and syntax highlightingPNG, JPG, GIF, SVG, PDF, MathML, LaTeX
LaTeXiTMac OS X unofficial universal binary. Open source.
LibreOffice Math[2] Windows, Linux, MacTool to create formulae that can be embedded inside other suite documentspng, jpg, pdf, html, xml, OLE. EPUB math-objects are not included in EPUB yet.
LiveMathWindows, Mac, LinuxLiveMath Maker, LiveMath View, LiveMath Plugins available.
LyXLyX has a WYSIWYM ("what you see is what you mean") approach. Open SourcePDF, DVI, LaTeX, Text, Postscript
MapleWindows, Linux, MacLaTeX, MathML, PDF
Mathcad Windows and Mac OS X (a 1998 version only)HTML + jpeg
Mathcha Editor MathchaWebMathcha editor is an online WYSIWYG formula editor that provides very fast formula inputting, diagram(support drawing and insert math formula in diagram), saving documents and sharing materials (link, pdf, latex, png, SVG,...)PNG, PDF, LaTeX, SVG
MathDox formula editorJavaScript editor for creating OpenMath, Computations are now possible via external web services, but integration of these web services is under construction
MathEditorWebMathEditor is an online WYSIWYG formula editor which supports formula semantic recognition and advanced accessibility. Integrated with Computer Algebra Systems and plotting libraries.json, LaTeX
Connexions' MathML Editor (Beta)Javascript, WYSIWYG, Open Source, Content and Presentation MathML editor. Currently, the MathML editor is only supported in Mozilla Firefox.
Math EditorWindows
Math I Can DoWindows, Mac, Linux, WebMath editor with a focus on long-form documents such as homework. Uses ISO 80000-2 notation. Available as a desktop app or Web API. Computation supported as an experimental feature, with the optional capability to export to third-party computation tools.LaTeX (standard and MathJax-friendly), MathML, SVG, PNG, JPEG, WEBP, PDF
MathematicaWindows, Unix/Linux, MacCDF, PDF, EPS, LaTeX, HTML, GIF, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, JPEG200, OpenEXR, BMP, PICT, WMF, EMF, XBM, PCX, FITS, DICOM, NETCDF, SVG, DXF, AVI, FLV, Quicktime, SWF, RTF, ASCII
MathQuillWebWYSIWYG DHTML LaTeX math editor in the Web browser. Currently only supports IE8+ and other modern browsers.
MathLiveWebJavaScript-based editorLaTeX, MathML, CSS+HTML, speech
MathTypeWindows, MacWorks with Microsoft Office, Apple Pages (et al.), Maple, Mathematica, iBooks Author, Gmail and over 800+ other applications and websites. Compatibility databaseGIF, EPS, TeX, LaTeX, MathML, PICT & PDF (Mac), WMF (Windows)
MathMagicWindows, macOS (32-bit, 64-bit), Android, iOSAlso supports Microsoft Word equations, Wolfram Alpha to see the computation results and answers, MathJax, Google Docs equations, MathType equations, Wiki equations, AsciiMathML, and Text-To-Speech to read out math expressions. Personal Edition is for general purpose use. Pro Editions mainly used with Adobe InDesign or QuarkXPress for desktop publishing. Comes with many math symbol fonts, Greek fonts, text body fonts in OpenType and TrueType format. System installed fonts are also supported.PDF, SVG, EPS, PNG, Transparent PNG, JPG, BMP, GIF, PICT, WMF, TIFF, Plain TeX, LaTeX, AMS LaTeX, MathML, ASCIIMath, Wolfram Alpha, Google Docs, Zoho, Text-To-Speech (Voice, Sentence)
MathCastOpen source
MathFlowWindows, MacMathML
Math-o-mirIntended to be used as math notepad. Freeware.
Math Expression Editor Light 1.2 (MEEL).NET Framework component Math Expression Editor Light
Microsoft Equation Editor 3.0Windows, MacDeprecated editor included in Microsoft Office products, based on limited version of MathType.OLE
Microsoft WordWindows, MacA graphing-calculator plug-in is available for simple calculations and manipulationsMathML
MiraiMathJava WYSIWYG Editor, Open Source. Can be used as alternative front end to GNU Octave
MyTexPointa small free program for inserting LaTeX equations into PowerPoint with a screen-shot tool
OpenOffice MathWindows, Linux, MacTool to create formulae that can be embedded inside other suite documents
PubliconMathematica-based technical document system
Rapid-PiWindowsMicrosoft Word plugin
Scientific WordWindowsWYSIWYM LaTeX editor
Scientific WorkPlaceWindowsWYSIWYM LaTeX editor with symbolic math and plotting
SentidoJavaScript editor for creating OpenMath
ShareMath.comFlash PlayerCreate, share and remix equations on the web. Embeds AlfredEq
TexifyAn online LaTeX equation writer. Based on open source mimeTeX library.
TeXmacsWindows, Linux, MacFree and open-source scientific WYSIWYG text editor. It offers a user-friendly interface, extensive mathematical typesetting, rich text formatting, document structure organization, collaborative editing, and extensibility. It combines the convenience of a graphical editor with the typesetting capabilities of LaTeX.HTML, LaTeX, MathML, PDF, Postscript
TexPointPowerPoint plugin for inserting LaTeX equations
TeXPPTWindowsFree PowerPoint 2010 plugin for inserting LaTeX equations, fully vector based, no rasters
TeXZillaFirefox Add-OnMathML
Tinkutara Equation EditorAndroidThis is an Android only editor.PNG, Latex
VisionObjects Equation EditorA handwriting recognizer for LaTeX and MathML equations.
WIRIS editorWebWIRIS editor has been re-branded MathType in 2018PNG, MathML, LaTeX, Flash
NameKeyboard inputGUI inputHandwriting recognitionTeX supportMathML supportRaster export Automatic expression layoutComputation supportPlatformNotesOutput formatsOpen source

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Collabora Office Math Features. Collabora Office.
  2. Web site: The neat equations and formulas editor. libreoffice.org.