MathJax-LaTeX

What is MathJax-LaTeX?

MathJax-LaTeX is a specialized WordPress plugin that renders LaTeX and MathML notation directly inside your posts and pages. Developed by knowledgeblog and maintained for 16 years, it injects the MathJax JavaScript library only when a page actually contains mathematical content. This on-demand loading approach prevents the performance drag that would occur if the library loaded site-wide. As of its latest release, version 1.3.13 (last updated Jan 14, 2025), the plugin serves 10K+ active installations. User feedback places it at a 4.4/5 rating from 11 reviews, with 82% of those ratings giving it five stars.

The plugin was originally created by Phillip Lord at Newcastle University and is licensed under GPLv2. It has been battle-tested across 16 years of WordPress evolution, supporting everything from WordPress 3.0+ to the current tested version of 6.7.5. For anyone asking how to use latex in wordpress, this is one of the longest-standing answers available.

Key Features of MathJax-LaTeX

• On-demand MathJax loading — The plugin only loads the MathJax JavaScript on pages that contain LaTeX or MathML, preserving site speed on non-mathematical content.
• Multiple syntax support — You can use [latex]E=mc^2[/latex] shortcode syntax, native MathJax delimiters like $$...$$ or \(...\), and even legacy $latex ...$ wp-latex syntax.
• Cloudflare CDN or local delivery — MathJax can be served from your own server or from the Cloudflare CDN, with the CDN option recommended for speed and stability.
• Drop-in replacement for wp-latex — The plugin can replace the older wp-latex plugin without breaking existing posts, though this behavior must be enabled in settings and is blocked when wp-latex is active.
• Per-page mathjax control — Use a [mathjax] shortcode to force loading on pages that use native syntax, or [nomathjax] to block rendering entirely on specific pages.
• Shortcode API integration — The [latex] shortcode is the preferred syntax and automatically triggers MathJax loading, making it straightforward for those wondering how to add latex to wordpress post content.
• GitHub development — The plugin is openly developed on GitHub, allowing community contributions and transparent version tracking.

Who Should Use MathJax-LaTeX?

This plugin is ideal for academics, researchers, educators, and science bloggers who need to display mathematical equations, chemical formulas, or statistical notation. If you run a university department site, a physics tutorial blog, or a mathematics homework portal, MathJax-LaTeX gives you the rendering fidelity of LaTeX without requiring users to learn complex markup. The 82% five-star rating suggests it works reliably for most users who understand its configuration options.

Beginner-level users will appreciate the shortcode syntax, which is the simplest way to get started. More advanced users can tap into the native MathJax syntax and CDN delivery settings. With 10K+ active installs, it is one of the more popular options for those searching for the best latex plugin wordpress has to offer. The plugin requires PHP 7.0.0+ and WordPress 3.0+, making it compatible with nearly every modern WordPress installation.

Installation & Setup

Installation follows the standard WordPress plugin process: upload the unzipped folder to /wp-content/plugins/, then activate through the Plugins screen. The plugin is beginner-friendly, with no complex configuration required to start using the [latex] shortcode immediately. For those who want to use native MathJax delimiters or enable wp-latex compatibility, a settings panel provides those toggles.

Support & Community

The support data tells a specific story. Over the last two months, the plugin’s WordPress.org forum shows 0 open threads and 0 resolved threads, resulting in a 0% resolution rate. This is a mixed signal: it could indicate that users rarely encounter problems, or that reported issues go unanswered. Given the 9% one-star rating, some users have experienced frustration. The plugin’s 16-year age and GitHub development mean that many common questions have already been answered in existing threads or the documentation. For those evaluating a mathjax wordpress solution, the low support activity suggests either stability or a need to rely on community resources rather than the official forum.