Discourse Math

Discourse
Thu, 06 Jul 2017 21:27:02 +0000
Plugin

| |
| Summary | Discourse Math uses MathJax (default) or KaTeX to render maths in your Discourse forum.
| Install Guide | This plugin is bundled with Discourse core. There is no need to install the plugin separately.

As this is an official plugin maintained by the Discourse team, Support, Bug, UX, and Feature requests can be made in the respective categories here on Meta, and tagged with the appropriate plugin tag. Click on a link below to get one started.

Support Bug UX Feature

Enabling Math

The Math plugin can be enabled from its settings, accessed from your admin/plugins page:

Features

Once enabled, you can render inline math by wrapping with a single $ like so: $E=mc^2$.

You can render blocks of math by wrapping with $$

$$
\sqrt{(-1)} \; 2^3 \; \sum \; \pi
$$

Discourse Math uses a heuristic to ensure that sentences such as: “I spent 20$ and another 100$” do not get converted.

LaTeX Delimiters

When enabled via site settings, you can also use standard LaTeX delimiters:

Inline: \(...\) - Example: \(E=mc^2\)

Block: \[...\] - Example:
\[
\frac{1}{2}
\]

AsciiMath (MathJax only)

When using MathJax, you can enable asciimath processing which uses % as a delimiter: %E=mc^2%

Composer Integration

The composer includes an Insert Math button in the toolbar with keyboard shortcut Shift+M. This opens a modal where you can:

Toggle between inline and block mode

Write your LaTeX expression

Preview and insert into your post

In the rich text editor, math expressions appear as editable nodes with an edit button to modify the expression.

Chat Support

Math expressions are also rendered in Discourse Chat messages using the same settings and rendering engine.

Rendering Engines

MathJax (Default)

Version: 4.1

Output formats: HTML (default) or SVG

Features:

Contextual menu (right-click on math)

Accessibility enrichment for screen readers

Zoom on alt-click (175% zoom)

AsciiMath support

KaTeX (Alternative)

Features:

Fast rendering

Mhchem extension for chemical equations

CopyTex extension - click math to copy LaTeX source to clipboard

Cross-reference support with \label, \ref, and \eqref macros

Site Settings

See all relevant site settings by searching your admin settings for “math”.

Name | Description
discourse math enabled | Enable Discourse Math plugin (adds special processing to $ and $$ blocks)
discourse math provider | Math rendering provider: mathjax (default) or katex
discourse math enable latex delimiters | Enable LaTeX-style delimiters: \(...\) for inline and \[...\] for block math
discourse math mathjax output | MathJax output format: html (default) or svg (MathJax only)
discourse math enable menu | Enable contextual menu for math expressions (MathJax only)
discourse math enable accessibility | Enable accessibility features like text enrichment (MathJax with menu only)
discourse math zoom on click | Zoom 175% on alt-click interaction (MathJax with menu only)
discourse math enable asciimath | Enable asciimath processing with % delimiter (MathJax only)

Hosted by us? This plugin is available on all of our hosting tiers Math | Discourse - Civilized Discussion

Last edited by @sam Friday, January 16, 2026 5:05 AM UTC
Check document (clicca per ulteriori dettagli)

14 messaggi - 5 partecipanti