Introducing the Computable Document Format (CDF)

Live Interactive Content

Dynamic Math Typesetting

Any element in CDF can be transformed into interactive content easily—true interactivity, not pre-generated or scripted. With the computing power of Mathematica technology, dynamic content in CDF can be driven by real-time computation or prompt live computation for new results, which deeply immerses readers in the content.

CDF makes mathematical typesetting semantic-faithful, unlike traditional typography. In addition to publication-quality typesetting, a formula can be input in a fully typeset form and then immediately evaluated to produce typeset output that can be edited and re-evaluated. It is no wonder that Wolfram was the major force behind the MathML standard.

All-in-One Format

Integrated Computational Knowledge

All elements of a project—calculations, visualizations, data, code, documentation, and even interactive applications - stay together in a uniquely flexible format. That means working on a problem with CDF automatically creates a document that can deliver knowledge to readers and let them drive content live.

Powered by Mathematica and Wolfram|Alpha technology, CDF brings trillions of pieces of expert-level data and the world's largest collection of algorithms together in a single platform. Authors in a wide range of fields can instantly create subject-specific content without requiring additional tools.

Retargetable Documents

Content Formatting

Create once and instantly transform into many forms—a document, textbook, presentation, report, infographic, and application. Deploy it to a variety of platforms—desktop, web, and even mobile devices*. Most operating systems and popular browsers are supported.

* Solutions for iOS and mobile devices, including cloud-based services, are coming soon.

CDF supports full markup, cascading stylesheets, and immediate global restyling for dynamic and static content. CDF is optimized for interactive use and can be deployed to web and print media. Over a thousand formatting and styling options are accessible to content authors.

Automation by Design

Free-Form Linguistic Input

Automation is the key to productive creation. CDF technology applies intelligent automation in every part of the system, from algorithm selection to plot layouts to user interface design. You get reliable, high-quality results without needing expertise - and even if you're an expert, you get results faster.

At the core of CDF technology lies the Mathematica language, a powerful and versatile language for content creation. With free-form linguistic input, programming in the Mathematica language can be as easy as entering plain English. Type in your idea and let the system transform it - whether it is a simple plot or a complex image processing operation.

Built-in Knowledge: Algorithms

Built-in Knowledge: Computable Data

CDF technology builds in specialized algorithms for many scientific and technical areas, from financial engineering to computational biology, making CDFs on almost any topic easy to create. Specialist functionality is tightly integrated with the core of CDF, providing a smooth workflow for authors and delivering unprecedented computational power to readers.

With CDF, you have full access to a vast collection of computable data across hundreds of fields, from economy to life science to geography. Real-time access to frequently updated and meticulously maintained computable data makes CDF documents as live and as accurate as possible.

Integrated Graphics & Visualization

Symbolic Documents

CDF and its underlying Mathematica platform provide the world's most sophisticated graphics and visualization functionality by any measure. Interactive 3D graphics, complex scientific plots, expansive business charts, and automatic graph visualization - everything is fully built-in and ready to use.

With CDF technology, everything is an expression, even whole documents. That allows them to be operated on programmatically. The symbolic basis of CDFs underlies many features, from cascading stylesheets to immediate deployment of CDFs as presentations, for print or the web, and as applications.