Accessibility
Accessible Math and Equations Overview
Last modified 3/17/2026
Creating accessible math and equations is essential for ensuring that all users—including people who use screen readers, refreshable braille displays, voice input, or keyboard navigation—can understand and interact with mathematical content. Under the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), math must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust, just like any other digital content.
Presenting math only as images or visual symbols creates significant accessibility barriers. Screen readers cannot reliably interpret equations that appear in images, screenshots, or untagged PDFs. To ensure access, mathematical content should be provided in a machine-readable, semantic format that assistive technologies can accurately interpret.
Authoring Accessible Math and Equations
Images of Equations
Images of complex equations can be problematic for people with disabilities. Math should be created as editable text using a math editor, or—if that is not possible—include alternative text that conveys the mathematical meaning, not just how it looks.
Sometimes even with a well-written alt text, images of equations may not provide equiatble access.
- They may not scale well when viewed with screen magnification.
- Screen readers will not recognize or interpret math inside images, such as the numerator or denominator of a fraction
Use MathML for Semantic Math
MathML (Mathematical Markup Language) is the preferred standard for accessible math on the web. It encodes the structure and meaning of equations—not just their appearance—allowing screen readers and braille devices to present math in a logical, navigable way. When properly implemented, MathML enables users to explore equations step-by-step, understand relationships between symbols, and hear math read using appropriate mathematical conventions.
Whenever possible, math content should be authored or rendered as native MathML, particularly in web pages, learning management systems, and digital documents that support it.
Use a math editor to help write your math content.
LaTeX Can Be Accessible—With Proper Rendering
LaTeX is widely used to author mathematical expressions, but LaTeX code alone is not accessible to most assistive technologies. For LaTeX to meet WCAG requirements, it must be rendered into an accessible format—ideally MathML—using tools or platforms that preserve semantic meaning. Many modern math editors and web frameworks convert LaTeX into accessible MathML behind the scenes, but this should always be verified through testing with screen readers. LaTeX is widely used in education and publishing. It can be converted to accessible formats (e.g., using MathJax or Pandoc).
Others Options for mathematical content
Mathpix and Equatio are mathematical tools that are being adopted by universities across the country, highlighting their accessibility.
Need Help?
For more help, submit a Accessibility Review Help Ticket
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