\usepackage{html}
How to Convert LaTeX to HTML
A complete, step-by-step guide to converting your LaTeX documents into clean, accessible HTML for the web. Whether you are publishing a research paper, sharing lecture notes, or building a documentation site, this guide walks you through every stage of the process using FormaTeX.
Last updated June 2026. Applies to FormaTeX online converter and API.
\section{Why convert?}
Why convert LaTeX to HTML?
LaTeX produces beautifully typeset PDFs, but PDFs are not always the best delivery format. HTML offers advantages that matter for modern publishing workflows.
Web publishing
HTML is the native language of the web. Converting your LaTeX documents to HTML lets you publish research papers, lecture notes, and technical documentation directly on your website. Unlike PDFs, HTML pages are indexed by search engines, load instantly on any device, and can be linked to at the section level. If you want your academic or technical content to reach the widest audience, HTML is the format to target.
Accessibility
PDF documents present significant barriers for screen readers, braille displays, and other assistive technologies. HTML, on the other hand, is inherently accessible when authored correctly. Semantic tags like headings, lists, and figure captions let assistive tools navigate your document with ease. Many universities and journals now require accessible formats alongside traditional PDFs, making LaTeX-to-HTML conversion an important part of the publishing workflow.
Easier sharing and collaboration
HTML files are lightweight, self-contained, and viewable in any browser without special software. Share a link instead of emailing a multi-megabyte PDF attachment. Colleagues can read your work on phones, tablets, and laptops without zooming or scrolling horizontally. HTML content also integrates naturally into learning management systems, wikis, and content management platforms where embedding a PDF viewer would be awkward or unsupported.
\section{Step-by-step}
Step-by-step guide to converting LaTeX to HTML
Follow these four steps to turn any LaTeX document into a well-formatted HTML page using the FormaTeX online converter. The entire process takes less than a minute for most documents.
Upload or paste your LaTeX source
Open the FormaTeX LaTeX-to-HTML converter and either upload your .tex file directly or paste your LaTeX source code into the editor. The converter accepts standard LaTeX documents including those with bibliography files, custom packages, and image references. If your project spans multiple files, upload the main .tex file and any dependencies together so that cross-references and input commands resolve correctly.
Configure HTML output settings
Before converting, choose how your output should behave. Select a math rendering method: MathJax for broad browser compatibility, KaTeX for faster load times, or inline SVG for zero-dependency rendering. Decide whether CSS should be inlined for portability or linked as a separate stylesheet for easier customization. You can also configure how images are handled, whether to preserve LaTeX cross-reference anchors as HTML IDs, and whether the output should be a complete standalone page or a fragment suitable for embedding.
Convert and preview
Click the Convert button to generate your HTML. FormaTeX processes your LaTeX source on the server using a full TeX Live installation, then transforms the compiled output into clean, semantic HTML. The preview pane shows you exactly how the final page will look in a browser. Check that equations render correctly, that tables preserve their alignment, that figures appear at the right size, and that cross-references like section numbers and citation links resolve properly.
Download or copy the HTML
Once you are satisfied with the preview, download the complete HTML file along with any associated assets such as images and stylesheets. Alternatively, copy the raw HTML markup directly and paste it into your website, blog post, or CMS. The generated HTML is clean and well-structured, so it integrates smoothly with existing site styles. For batch workflows, the FormaTeX API lets you automate this entire process programmatically.
\section{Tips}
Tips for better HTML output
Converting LaTeX to HTML is straightforward, but a few deliberate choices will make the difference between a passable result and a polished web page.
Choose the right math renderer
MathJax offers the broadest browser and assistive technology support. It renders every LaTeX math command faithfully, including obscure AMS extensions, and produces output that screen readers can interpret. The trade-off is a larger JavaScript payload and slightly slower initial render on pages with hundreds of equations.
KaTeX is significantly faster than MathJax and produces identical visual output for the most common math constructs. Choose KaTeX when page load speed matters and your documents do not rely on niche LaTeX math packages. KaTeX also supports server-side rendering, which eliminates the client-side JavaScript entirely.
Inline SVG embeds each equation as a vector graphic directly in the HTML. This approach requires zero external dependencies and works even in email clients that strip JavaScript. The downside is larger file sizes for equation-heavy documents and no text selectability within the rendered math.
Style your HTML output with CSS
The HTML generated by FormaTeX uses semantic class names that mirror LaTeX structural commands. Headings map to h1 through h6, figures use the figure and figcaption elements, and code listings are wrapped in pre and code tags. This makes it straightforward to apply your own CSS theme on top of the default output.
If you are embedding the converted HTML into an existing website, use the fragment output mode to get only the body content without the doctype, head, or wrapper elements. This avoids style conflicts with your site's global stylesheet.
For standalone pages, the default stylesheet is designed for readability: a centered content column, generous line height, and responsive breakpoints that adapt from mobile to desktop. You can override any rule by adding a custom stylesheet link after the default one.
Handle images and figures correctly
LaTeX documents often reference images as EPS or PDF vector files. The converter transforms these into web-friendly formats like SVG or PNG so they display correctly in browsers. If your original images are already in PNG or JPEG format, they pass through unchanged.
TikZ and PGFPlots diagrams are rendered during the conversion process and exported as SVG images. The resulting vector graphics scale perfectly at any screen resolution and remain crisp on retina displays.
Always include descriptive alt text for figures in your LaTeX source using comments or caption text. The converter carries this metadata forward into the HTML img alt attribute, which is essential for accessibility and SEO.
Preserve cross-references and links
LaTeX cross-references created with \label and \ref are converted into HTML anchor links. Clicking a reference in the HTML output scrolls to the corresponding section, figure, or equation, just like in a PDF viewer.
Bibliography entries generated by BibTeX or BibLaTeX are rendered as a styled list at the end of the HTML document, with citation links connecting inline references to their bibliography entries.
External hyperlinks created with the hyperref package are preserved as standard HTML anchor tags, ensuring that all URLs, DOI links, and email addresses remain clickable in the web version.
\section{Alternatives}
When HTML is not the right format
HTML is ideal for web publishing, but other output formats serve different needs. FormaTeX supports multiple conversion targets so you can pick the one that fits your situation.
Need to collaborate with co-authors who use Microsoft Word? Convert your LaTeX document to DOCX while preserving equations, tables, and formatting. Track Changes and comments work immediately in the resulting Word file.
LaTeX to DOCX converterPublishing a book or long-form document? EPUB is the standard format for e-readers like Kindle and Kobo. The converter handles chapter structure, embedded math, and reflowable text layouts automatically.
LaTeX to EPUB converter\section{Related guides}
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