index.md

---

title: <mi>
slug: Web/MathML/Element/mi
browser-compat: mathml.elements.mi

---

{{MathMLRef}}

The <mi> MathML element indicates that the content should be rendered as an identifier such as function names, variables or symbolic constants. You can also have arbitrary text in it to mark up terms.

Attributes

This element accepts the global MathML attributes. For <mi> elements that contain a single character, the default value of the mathvariant attribute is italic.

Examples

<math display="block">
  <!-- Multiple characters, default mathvariant is "normal". -->
  <mi>sin</mi>
</math>

<math display="block">
  <!-- Single character, default mathvariant is "italic". -->
  <mi>y</mi>
</math>

<math display="block">
  <!-- Overriding default mathvariant. -->
  <mi mathvariant="normal">F</mi>
</math>

{{ EmbedLiveSample('mi_example', 700, 200, "", "") }}

Specifications

{{Specifications}}

Browser compatibility

{{Compat}}