<mo>

The MathML `<mo>` element represents an operator in a broad sense. Besides operators in strict mathematical meaning, this element also includes "operators" like parentheses, separators like comma and semicolon, or "absolute value" bars.

Attributes

accent
If the operator is used as an under- or overscript this attribute specifies whether the operator should be treated as an accent.
Allowed values are `true` or `false`.
class, id, style
Provided for use with stylesheets.
dir
The text direction. Possible values are either `ltr` (left to right) or `rtl` (right to left).
fence
There is no visual effect for this attribute, but it specifies whether the operator is a fence (such as parentheses).
Allowed values are `true` or `false`.
form
Specifies the role of the operator in an enclosed expression, which affects spacing and other default properties. For ordinary operators (+, -, etc. ) you usually do not need to specify this attribute explicitly.
Possible values are:
• `prefix`, for opening fences. (It is the default value if the operator is the first argument in a `<mrow>` element with more than one argument.)
• `infix`, for separators. (It is the default value if the operator is not included in a `<mrow>` element.)
• `postfix`, closing fences. (It is the default value if the operator is the last argument in a `<mrow>` element with more than one argument.)
href
Used to set a hyperlink to a specified URI.
largeop
Specifies whether the operator should be drawn larger than normal when `displaystyle="true"` is set. Allowed values are either `true` or `false`.
lspace
The amount of space before the operator (see length for values and units). The constant `thickmathspace` (5/18em) is the default value.
mathbackground
The background color. You can use `#rgb`, `#rrggbb` and HTML color names.
mathcolor
The text color. You can use `#rgb`, `#rrggbb` and HTML color names.
mathsize
The size of the content. Possible values are:
• `small:` Font is rendered smaller than the current font size.
• `normal:` Equivalent to 100% or 1em.
• `big:` Font is rendered larger than the current font size.
• a custom length.
• or a unitless value which multiplies the default.
mathvariant
This attribute specifies the logical class of the operator which varies in typography. That is, although the names suggest the typographic style for the class, semantically, items with the same class are treated "the same" within an expression, which might or might not involve displaying them with the named typography. The following values are allowed:
• `normal` (Default value) ; $\mathrm{Example}$
• `bold` ; $\mathbf{Example}$
• `italic` ; $\mathit{Example}$
• `bold-italic` ; $\mathbit{Example}$
• `double-struck` ; $\mathbb{Example}$
• `bold-fraktur` ; ${Example}$
• `script` ; $\mathcal{Example}$
• `bold-script` ; $\mathsc{Example}$
• `fraktur` ; $\mathfrak{Example}$
• `sans-serif` ; $\mathsf{Example}$
• `bold-sans-serif` ; $\mathbsf{Example}$
• `sans-serif-italic` ; $\mathsfit{Example}$
• `sans-serif-bold-italic` ; $\mathbsfit{Example}$
• `monospace` ; $\mathtt{Example}$
• `initial` ; ${مثال}$
• `tailed` ; ${مثال}$
• `looped` ; ${مثال}$
• `stretched` ; ${مثال}$
maxsize
If `stretchy` is `true`, this attribute specifies the maximum size of the operator. Allowed values are:
• `infinity`
• an arbitrary length
minsize
If `stretchy` is `true`, this attribute specifies the minimum size of the operator. Allowed values are:
• `infinity`
• an arbitrary length
movablelimits
Specifies whether attached under- and overscripts move to sub- and superscript positions when `displaystyle` is `false`.
Allowed values are either `true` or `false.`
rspace
The amount of space after the operator (see length for values and units). The constant `thickmathspace` (5/18em) is the default value.
separator
There is no visual effect for this attribute, but it specifies whether the operator is a separator (such as commas).
Allowed values are `true` or `false`.
stretchy
Specifies whether the operator stretches to the size of the adjacent element.
Allowed values are `true` or `false`.
symmetric
If `stretchy` is `true`, this attribute specifies whether the operator should be vertically symmetric around the imaginary math axis (centered fraction line).
The default value is `true` if stretchy is set to `true` and otherwise `false`. Allowed values are `true` or `false`.

Examples

```[itex]

<mrow>
<mn>5</mn>
<mo>+</mo>
<mn>5</mn>
</mrow>

<mrow>
<mo> [ </mo> <!-- default form value: prefix -->
<mrow>
<mn> 0 </mn>
<mo> ; </mo> <!-- default form value: infix -->
<mn> 1 </mn>
</mrow>
<mo> ) </mo> <!-- default form value: postfix -->
</mrow>

[/itex]
```

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
MathML 3.0
The definition of 'mo' in that specification.
Recommendation Current specification
MathML 2.0
The definition of 'mo' in that specification.
Recommendation Initial specification

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari
Basic support Not supported 1.0 (1.7 or earlier) Not supported Not supported 5.1
`accent` Not supported 1.0 (1.7 or earlier) Not supported Not supported Not supported
`dir` Not supported 12.0 (12.0) Not supported Not supported Not supported
`form` Not supported Not supported Not supported Not supported Not supported
`href` Not supported 7.0 (7.0) Not supported Not supported Not supported
`largeop` Not supported Not supported Not supported Not supported Not supported
`lspace, rspace` Not supported 1.0 (1.7 or earlier) Not supported Not supported Not supported
`mathsize` Not supported 1.0 (1.7 or earlier) Not supported Not supported 5.1
`mathvariant` Not supported 28.0 (28.0) Not supported Not supported Not supported
`maxsize, minsize` Not supported 1.0 (1.7 or earlier) Not supported Not supported Not supported
`movablelimits` Not supported 1.0 (1.7 or earlier) Not supported Not supported Not supported
`stretchy` Not supported 1.0 (1.7 or earlier) Not supported Not supported 5.1
`symmetric` Not supported 1.0 (1.7 or earlier) Not supported Not supported Not supported
Feature Android Chrome for Android Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Mobile Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support Not supported Not supported 1.0 (1.9.2) Not supported Not supported Not supported
`accent` Not supported Not supported 1.0 (1.9.2) Not supported Not supported Not supported
`dir` Not supported Not supported 12.0 (12.0) Not supported Not supported Not supported
`form` Not supported Not supported Not supported Not supported Not supported Not supported
`href` Not supported Not supported 7.0 (7.0) Not supported Not supported Not supported
`largeop` Not supported Not supported Not supported Not supported Not supported Not supported
`lspace, rspace` Not supported Not supported 1.0 (1.9.2) Not supported Not supported Not supported
`mathsize` Not supported Not supported 1.0 (1.9.2) Not supported Not supported Not supported
`mathvariant` Not supported Not supported 28.0 (28.0) Not supported Not supported Not supported
`maxsize, minsize` Not supported Not supported 1.0 (1.9.2) Not supported Not supported Not supported
`movablelimits` Not supported Not supported 1.0 (1.9.2) Not supported Not supported Not supported
`stretchy` Not supported Not supported 1.0 (1.9.2) Not supported Not supported Not supported
`symmetric` Not supported Not supported 1.0 (1.9.2) Not supported Not supported Not supported

Gecko-specific notes

• Starting with Gecko 16.0 (Firefox 16.0 / Thunderbird 16.0 / SeaMonkey 2.13) the default values for `lspace` and `rspace` have been corrected to match the MathML3 specification. They now default to the constant `thickmathspace` (5/18em).
• Starting with Gecko 20.0 (Firefox 20.0 / Thunderbird 20.0 / SeaMonkey 2.17) a unitless value for `mathsize` is allowed.
• Some `mathvariant` values are only implemented starting with Gecko 28.0 (Firefox 28.0 / Thunderbird 28.0 / SeaMonkey 2.25) and require appropriate math fonts.
• Any linebreaking or indentation attributes are not implemented yet. See bug 534962.

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