If you run a Mathematics, Physic, Chemistry and other Science or calculation blog, then you need certain plugins to input formulas, special characters and certain type of equations. This is the reason for this article.
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I will list the plugins and their uniques features. You can then decide to check them out. I assume you already know how to search and install plugins. Otherwise, check how to find and install a WordPress plugin by name here.
Best WordPress Plugins To Add Formulars and Equations
1. MathJax-LaTeX
MathJax enables enables rendering of embedded LaTeX or MathML in HTML pages. This plugin adds this functionality to WordPress. The MathJax JavaScript is inject on-demand only to those pages which require it. This ensures that MathJax is not loaded for all pages, which will otherwise slow loading down.
The MathJax JavaScript can be delivered from your own server, or you can use the CDNJS Content Distribution Network (CDN), which is the preferred mechanism as it offers increased speed and stability over hosting the JavaScript and configuring the library yourself.
You may embed latex using a variety of different syntaxes. The shortcode (https://codex.wordpress.org/Shortcode_API) syntax is preferred. So[latex]E=mc^2[/latex]will work out of the box. This also forces loading of MathJax.
Additionally, you can use native MathJax syntax ”” $$E=mc^2$$ or \(E=mc^2\). However, if this is the only syntax used, the plugin must be explicitly told to load MathJax for the current page. This can be achieved by adding a [mathjax] shortcode anywhere in the post. For posts with both [latex]x[/latex] and $$x$$ syntaxes this is unnecessary.
You can use wp-latex syntax, $latex E=mc^2$. Parameters can be specified as with wp-latex but will be ignored. This means that MathJax-LaTeX should be a drop-in replacement for wp-latex. Because this conflicts with wp-latex, this behaviour is blocked when wp-latex is present, and must be explicitly enabled in the settings.
You can also specify [nomathjax] ”” this will block mathjax on the current page, regardless of other tags.
2. WP QuickLaTeX
Insert formulas & graphics in the posts and comments using native LaTeX shorthands directly in the text. Inline formulas, displayed equations auto-numbering, labeling and referencing, AMS-LaTeX, TikZ, custom LaTeX preamble. No LaTeX installation required. Easily customizable using UI page. Actively developed and maintained.
- Standard LaTeX expressions can be cut and pasted directly into WordPress posts, pages, and comments; display environments require no enclosures, other expressions require only a surrounding
$..$or\[..\]. No need for enclosing tags[latex] ... [/latex]. - Correct vertical positioning of inline formulas relative to baseline of surrounding text. Say “NO” to jumpy equations produced by other plugins!
- SVG vector graphics support, so that formulas are crisp regardless of scaling in browser.
- (AMS)LaTeX displayed math environments support:
equation, align, gather, multiline, flalign, alignat,etc. - Automatic numbering of displayed equations. Override autonumbering with
\tag{}LaTeX command. - Equation hyper-referencing by standard LaTeX rules with
\label{},\ref{}. - Custom LaTeX document preamble, allowing added
\usepackage{}and\newcommand{}. TikZandpgfplotsgraphics package support.- Preview formulas in comments before publishing. Additionally AJAX Comment Preview plugin should be installed to enable this feature.
- Meaningful error messages for mistakes in LaTeX code.
- Precise font properties tuning:
size, text and background color. - Easy style customization using UI or CSS file.
- No LaTeX installation is required.
- QuickLaTeX.com automatically provides formula images, which are then cached on user’s server.
- Administrative settings page for setting global parameters; AJAX-ified.
Just place LaTeX math expressions into your text and enable QuickLaTeX on the page by [latexpage] command. WP QuickLaTeX will convert them to high-quality images and embed into post. Inline formulas will be properly aligned with the text. Displayed equations will be auto-numbered by LaTeX rules.
3. WP-KaTeX
The KaTeX WordPress plugin integrates the super-fast KaTeX math typesetting engine with your WordPress website. The plugin allows you to put LaTeX in a [latex]…[/latex] shortcode, and beautiful math appears on your post or page.
The plugin also has an option to use the excellent jsDelivr CDN to load the KaTeX scripts, further increasing the performance of the plugin.
Equations in [latex display=”true”]…[/latex] will be rendered in display mode (rather than inline mode) and centered on its own line.
4. Easy WP LaTeX
Easy WP LaTeX provides a very easy way to display equations or mathematical formulas (typed in as TeX or LaTeX code) in your posts. It lets you customize colors and sizes of your equations to match your blog theme.
Most LaTeX/equation plugins I have seen suffer from a few drawbacks.
- They require installations of TeX or other packages on your server.
- They are fairly inflexible in terms of colors of text and background.
- Each time you switch your theme, you have to re-configure your color scheme.
- They may not let you choose how to input LaTeX code. ([math]”¦[/math] or $$”¦$$) without editing the plugin code.
5. Youngwhan’s Simple Latex
This plugin helps to represent latex syntax to your blog. The usage is simple. [math]{Latex Syntax}[/math]. E.g., [math]x^2+y^2[/math]. This is relying on the CGI and when you install it, it will install the CGI automatically. So, you don’t need to do anything.
6. Beautiful Math with LaTeX
The WPX Quick LaTeX is a popular Math Equation and Expression inserting plugin for the WordPress platform with huge existing users worldwide.
With this fantastic WordPress latex extension, you can add the scientific expressions, chemical formulas, graphics, and related things faster than ever.
It doesn’t require any extra LaTeX installations, and it is highly user-friendly. This math WordPress Plugin has a pleasant UI and also easy kid-wise customization section as well.
Thus it makes the work effectively with less effort indeed. You can instantly change the Color, Size and also the BG/FG simply. The rendered image is of high quality, and it is cached in the user’s own server.
This plugin also solves the question How to convert a mathematical MS Word document to WordPress.
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