Render LaTeX TikZ Code as SVG Directly in Browser – TikZJax

Category: Chart & Graph , Javascript | April 21, 2025
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Author:tikzjax
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Last Update:April 21, 2025
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Render LaTeX TikZ Code as SVG Directly in Browser – TikZJax

Description:

TikZJax is a lightweight JavaScript library that enables real-time rendering of TikZ code into SVG graphics directly in the browser.

It allows you to embed mathematical diagrams, graphs, and other technical illustrations without server-side processing by converting script tags containing TikZ code into corresponding SVG elements.

Use Cases

  • Academic & Technical Blogging: If you’re writing technical content that relies heavily on precise diagrams often created with TikZ (think graph theory, mathematical proofs, state machines), TikZJax avoids the need for a complex build pipeline just to convert .tex files to images. You just write the TikZ code directly in your HTML or Markdown.
  • Online Documentation: For projects requiring explanatory diagrams that are best expressed using TikZ’s powerful syntax, this library lets you keep the diagram source close to the documentation text. It simplifies updates compared to managing separate image files.
  • Interactive Educational Tools: While the conversion itself is static per script tag, you could potentially generate these script tags dynamically with JavaScript based on user input, then let TikZJax render them. This opens possibilities for tools demonstrating mathematical concepts visually. I haven’t pushed this boundary heavily myself, but the client-side nature makes it feasible.
  • Personal Wikis/Notes: If you use TikZ for personal note-taking (maybe in Obsidian or a similar tool with web rendering capabilities), TikZJax offers a way to render these diagrams without external dependencies or server calls, provided the environment can execute the JavaScript.

How to use it:

1. Add the TikZJax CSS for fonts and the main JavaScript file to the <head> of your HTML document.

<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://tikzjax.com/v1/fonts.css">
<script src="https://tikzjax.com/v1/tikzjax.js"></script>

2. Place your TikZ code inside a script tag with type="text/tikz":

<script type="text/tikz">
  \begin{tikzpicture}
  \draw[gray, thick] (-1,2) -- (2,-4);
  \draw[gray, thick] (-1,-1) -- (2,2);
  \filldraw[black] (0,0) circle (2pt) node[anchor=west]{Intersection point};
  \end{tikzpicture}
</script>

3. When the page loads, TikZJax automatically finds these script tags, processes the TikZ code, and replaces the entire <script> element in the DOM with the corresponding <svg> element.

<svg width="113.02438pt" height="171.51645pt" viewBox="-72 -72 113.02438 171.51645" style="position: absolute; top: 0pt; left: 0pt; overflow: visible;">
<g transform="translate(-43.41726684570312,-14.964523315429684)">
<g stroke-miterlimit="10" transform="scale(1,-1)"><g stroke="#000" fill="#000">
 <g stroke-width="0.4">
 <g stroke="#808080" fill="#808080">
 <g stroke-width="0.8">
 <path d=" M -28.45274 56.90549 L 56.90549 -113.81097  " fill="none"></path>
 </g>
 </g>
 <g stroke="#808080" fill="#808080">
 <g stroke-width="0.8">
 <path d=" M -28.45274 -28.45274 L 56.90549 56.90549  " fill="none"></path>
 </g>
 </g>
 <g stroke="#000" fill="#000">
 <path d=" M 0.0 0.0 M 2.0 0.0 C 2.0 1.10458 1.10458 2.0 0.0 2.0 C -1.10458 2.0 -2.0 1.10458 -2.0 0.0 C -2.0 -1.10458 -1.10458 -2.0 0.0 -2.0 C 1.10458 -2.0 2.0 -1.10458 2.0 0.0 Z M 0.0 0.0  "></path>
 <g transform="translate(3.53297,-2.44444)">
 <g stroke="none" transform="scale(-1.00375,1.00375)translate(-40.083938598632805,-14.964523315429684)scale(-1,-1)"><g fill="#000">
 <g stroke="none"> <text alignment-baseline="baseline" y="-14.964523315429684" x="-40.083938598632805" style="font-family: cmr10;" font-size="10">In</text>
<text alignment-baseline="baseline" y="-14.964523315429684" x="-31.195035934448235" style="font-family: cmr10;" font-size="10">tersection</text>
<text alignment-baseline="baseline" y="-14.964523315429684" x="14.443981170654293" style="font-family: cmr10;" font-size="10">p</text>
<text alignment-baseline="baseline" y="-14.964523315429684" x="20.27733993530273" style="font-family: cmr10;" font-size="10">oin</text>
<text alignment-baseline="baseline" y="-14.964523315429684" x="33.33293151855468" style="font-family: cmr10;" font-size="10">t</text>
</g> </g>
 </g></g>
 </g>
 </g>
 </g>
 </g></g></svg>

FAQs

Q: Wait, what exactly is TikZ? I haven’t heard of it.

A: TikZ (whose name is a recursive acronym for “TikZ ist kein Zeichenprogramm” – TikZ is not a drawing program) is essentially a graphics description language for LaTeX. Think of it like a programmatic way to create vector graphics. Instead of using a GUI tool like Illustrator or Inkscape, you write code using commands like \draw, \path, \node, etc., to define shapes, lines, curves, text placement, and relationships between elements

Q: Can I use any arbitrary TikZ library or LaTeX package?

A: Probably not. The environment is based on a minimal LaTeX format plus the tikz package and likely its dependencies. Complex external TikZ libraries or other LaTeX packages (\usepackage{...}) beyond the basics might not be available in the pre-compiled environment. You’d need to test specific cases or check the TikZJax documentation/repository ([LINK]) for details on supported features. The tikz-cd package for commutative diagrams is explicitly supported.

Q: How does performance scale with very complex TikZ figures?

A: While TikZJax uses WASM and core dumps for speed, rendering extremely complex TikZ code still requires significant computation. I’d expect performance to be good for typical diagrams, but potentially noticeable for pathologically complex figures or pages with hundreds of diagrams. Test on target devices if performance is critical.

Related Resources: Learning TikZ

While TikZJax lets you render TikZ code on the web, it doesn’t teach you TikZ itself. If you want to create new diagrams or modify existing complex ones, you’ll need to get familiar with the TikZ syntax. Here are some solid resources if you want to dive deeper:

  • The Official PGF/TikZ Manual: This is the ultimate reference. It’s massive (well over 1000 pages) and covers everything, making it indispensable for looking up specific commands or advanced features. Probably not the best starting point for a complete beginner, but essential once you get going.
  • Overleaf’s TikZ Tutorials: Overleaf provides a much gentler introduction. Their documentation includes tutorials covering basic shapes, nodes, paths, coordinates, and more complex examples. This is often the recommended starting point for learning the fundamentals.
  • TeX Stack Exchange (TikZ Tag): This is invaluable for practical problem-solving. Chances are, someone has already asked how to create a specific type of diagram or achieve a particular effect. Searching the tikz-pgf tag often yields ready-to-adapt code snippets and explanations.
  • TikZ Example Galleries: Seeing what’s possible can be very motivating. Several sites collect impressive TikZ examples, often with source code provided. These can be great for inspiration and learning by example.

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