DOCUMENTATION CENTER SEARCH

Mathematica > Defining Custom Notation >

Built-in Mathematica Symbol

Tutorials »|See Also »|More About »

MakeBoxes

MakeBoxes[expr, form]
is the low-level function used in Mathematica sessions to convert expressions into boxes.

MakeBoxes[expr]
is the function to convert expr to StandardForm boxes.

MORE INFORMATION

MakeBoxes does not evaluate expr.

form can be StandardForm, TraditionalForm, or any other format represented using boxes.

You can give definitions for MakeBoxes[expr, form] to specify your own rules for how expressions should be converted to boxes. »

MakeBoxes is not automatically called on the results it generates. This means that explicit MakeBoxes calls must typically be inserted into definitions that are given.

If you change the output format for an expression by giving a definition for MakeBoxes, there is no guarantee that output you get will subsequently be able to be interpreted by Mathematica.

Definitions you give for MakeBoxes will override built-in Mathematica rules for generating output.

Basic Examples (3)

Box representation of a polynomial:

Box representation of a graphic:

Click for copyable input

A special function in StandardForm and TraditionalForm:

MakeExpression ToBoxes Format

Low-Level Input and Output Rules

Formatted Output

Defining Custom Notation

New in 3

© 2008 Wolfram Research, Inc.

Ask a question about this page | Suggest an improvement | Leave a message for the team