Math Best Practices

Accessible math in digital formats is math that can be read and used by everyone, including people using assistive technology such as screen readers.

Accessible math is not just visually styled. It uses markup and formats so that expressions can be read aloud correctly and explored using different technologies.

Math presents unique accessibility challenges because it uses layouts, symbols, and structures to communicate precise meaning. These elements can be made accessible for all users by using best practices, tools, and workflows as described here.

Math in Digital Documents: Markup Languages and More

LaTeX

LaTeX (pronounced "Lay-tek" or "Lah-tek") is a standard markup language for writing documents containing math across STEM fields.

LaTeX uses text-based notation to represent mathematical expressions, from simple equations to complex structures including integrals, limits, and matrices.

How it’s used:

  • Authors write and edit in LaTeX, then the file is compiled into a typeset output document (historically, a PDF) for posting, sharing, or publication
  • LaTeX encodes all parts of the document: text, heading structures, tables, math, etc.

Accessibility:

  • LaTeX itself is accessibility-neutral, neither inherently accessible nor inaccessible
  • What matters for accessibility are the output formats generated from the LaTeX source file, and the settings, workflows, and packages used to generate those formats for sharing math content with end users

MathML

MathML (Mathematical Markup Language) is the markup language for presenting math in an accessible manner inside digital content.

MathML encodes the structure and meaning of mathematical expressions using tags (similar to LaTeX).

How it’s used:

  • MathML is not an editing format; it is rarely written by hand, and usually generated by conversion tools from LaTeX or other authoring formats
  • MathML encodes only math content, not other content, inside of digital documents

Accessibility:

  • MathML is the preferred format for publishing accessible math in webpages, ebooks, PDFs, and online applications
  • It is recommended by W3C and codified as an ISO standard
  • MathML makes content readable by assistive technologies such as screen readers, and convertible into speech, Braille, and other formats

Images of Math

Images can be used to visually display math equations in webpages, documents, ebooks, and online applications.

How it’s used:

  • Images of math are generated from various tools and inserted into digital documents
  • Text equivalents must be provided to make these readable.

Accessibility:

  • Images of math are less accessible than other approaches and should only be used when no other option is available.
  • Alt text must correctly, unambiguously describe the equation
  • Even with quality alt text, images of math are less flexible than MathML because users cannot navigate and explore equations independently using assistive technology.

Output Document Formats

Documents containing mathematical content are distributed in a variety of output formats. The most common formats include:

  • PDFs are a common document format for sharing math content, but accessibility depends on how the PDF was created
    • PDFs can support accessible math when generated directly from LaTeX using recommended workflows and correct settings
    • Most PDFs do not contain accessible math if they were made before 2026, or if created without following recommended workflows and best practices
  • Web content in HTML is a flexible and accessible format for math content
  • Canvas pages can support accessible math when content is authored and embedded using recommended tools and formats
  • Word and PowerPoint support accessible math input through the built-in equation editor
  • Google Docs and Slides have limited native support for accessible math, and can only include math as images.

Authoring Tools and Workflows

Recommended workflows for producing accessible math outputs.

LaTeX to HTML

HTML with embedded MathML is the most flexible and accessible output format for documents containing mathematics. Simple, short HTML files can be shared in courses as a Canvas page.

More guidance for HTML publishing workflows you can use, including PreText, is coming soon.

LaTeX to Tagged PDF

A tagged PDF contains embedded information that allows screen readers and other technologies to navigate and read the document structure. Untagged PDFs are not accessible to assistive technologies.

Canvas

Create accessible math content directly in Canvas using the equation editor, or paste HTML into Canvas pages.

Converting PDFs

Convert inaccessible PDFs into accessible outputs.

Microsoft Word and PowerPoint

Use the built-in Equation Editor to create accessible math inside Word or PowerPoint.

Google Docs and Slides

Google Docs and Slides have limited native support for accessible math, and content created in these platforms may require additional steps to meet accessibility standards.

Testing and Validation

Check your output documents to confirm that math is correctly encoded and that other accessibility features are present.

Automated Accessibility Checkers: For Everything but Math

Checkers can verify the use of many accessibility features, but cannot automatically detect if math expressions are correctly encoded.

Manual Review: For Math

Check your output documents to verify that math expressions are correctly encoded. Use a quick manual process to confirm that your output workflow is reliably creating accessible outputs.

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