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Vladislav Sorokin edited this page Dec 2, 2025 · 6 revisions

Auto Math Wiki

Documentation for Auto Math plugin — automatic LaTeX snippet expansion in Obsidian.

Design Philosophy

Auto Math is designed to simplify LaTeX input without replacing standard LaTeX syntax with custom keywords or shortcuts you need to learn separately.

The plugin expands familiar LaTeX commands like \frac, \sqrt, and \sum into ready-to-edit templates, preserving the standard LaTeX workflow you already know. There are only two deliberate shortcuts: ^^ for superscripts (^{}) and __ for subscripts (_{}), added for convenience when typing quickly.

I don't aim to include every possible LaTeX command — instead, rules are added thoughtfully as needed. As a mathematics student, I'm developing this plugin alongside my studies, and it significantly helps with writing assessments. If you have suggestions or questions, please open an issue on GitHub.

Documentation

Core Pages:

What is Auto Math?

Auto Math automatically expands LaTeX commands as you type.

Example:

Type: $\frac [space]
Get:  $\frac{}{}

Cursor automatically positioned inside first {}.

Key Features

Smart Limits
\int and \sum adapt to context:

  • $\int [space] → \int_{}^{} (inline)
  • $$\int [space] → \int\limits_{}^{} (display)

See Smart Limits for details.

Custom Rules
Add your own commands via JSON file or built-in editor.

See Custom Rules for details.

Live Reload
Changes to rules file apply instantly, no restart needed.

Why This Matters

The Problem: Manual LaTeX is Slow

Writing equations by hand:

$\frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}$

You type every character, position cursor manually, easy to make mistakes.

The Solution: Auto Math

With Auto Math:

  1. Type $\frac [space] → cursor in numerator
  2. Type -b \pm \sqrt [space] → cursor in sqrt
  3. Fill in, move to denominator
  4. Done

3-5× faster with fewer errors.

Default Commands

Auto Math includes 30+ commands:

Operators: \frac, \sqrt, \sum, \int, \lim
Formatting: \text, \vec, \hat, \bar
Environments: \align, \matrix, \cases

Full list in Getting Started.

Example: Why Multiple Fraction Commands?

Auto Math provides 4 fraction types. Why?

\frac — adapts to context

Inline:  $\frac{a}{b}$
Display: $$\frac{a}{b}$$

Renders as:
Inline: $\frac{a}{b}$ (small)
Display: $$\frac{a}{b}$$ (large)

\dfrac — always large

Emphasize in text: $\dfrac{\pi d^2}{4}$

Renders as:
Emphasize in text: $\dfrac{\pi d^2}{4}$

\tfrac — always small

In exponents: $e^{\tfrac{i\pi}{2}}$

Renders as:
In exponents: $e^{\tfrac{i\pi}{2}}$

\cfrac — continued fractions

$$\phi = 1 + \cfrac{1}{1 + \cfrac{1}{1 + \ddots}}$$

Renders as:

$$\phi = 1 + \cfrac{1}{1 + \cfrac{1}{1 + \ddots}}$$

Each has a specific purpose. See Fractions for when to use which.

Get Help

Contributing

Last updated: 30 November 2025

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