mozilla

# <ms>

The MathML `<ms>` element represents a string literal meant to be interpreted by programming languages and computer algebra systems. By default, string literals are displayed as enclosed by double quotes (`&quot;`); by using the `lquote` and `rquote` attributes, you can set custom characters to display. Note that quotation marks should not be specified unless they are part of the string literal. The content of an `<ms>` element is not an ASCII string per se, but rather a sequence of characters and `<mglyph>` and `<malignmark>` elements.

## Attributes

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).
lquote
The opening quote character (depends on `dir`) to enclose the content. The default value is "`&quot;".`
href
Used to set a hyperlink to a specified URI.
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 identifier, 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` ; ${"مثال"}$
rquote
The closing quote mark (depends on `dir`) to enclose the content. The default value is "`&quot;".`

## Examples

```[itex]

<ms lquote="„" rquote="“"> abc </ms>

[/itex]
```

## Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari
Basic support Not supported 1.0 (1.7 or earlier) Not supported 9.5 Not supported
`dir` Not supported 12.0 (12.0) Not supported Not supported Not supported
`href` Not supported WebKit bug 85733 7.0 (7.0) Not supported Not supported Not supported WebKit bug 85733
`mathsize` Not supported 1.0 (1.7 or earlier) Not supported Not supported Not supported
`mathvariant` Not supported 28.0 (28.0) Not supported partially supported (see above) 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
`dir` Not supported Not supported 12.0 (12.0) Not supported Not supported Not supported
`href` Not supported Not supported 7.0 (7.0) 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

### Gecko-specific notes

• 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.

## Specifications

Specification Status Comment
MathML 3.0 Recommendation Current specification
MathML 2.0 Recommendation Initial specification

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