Chapter 6 – Introduction to WebMathematica

Chapter 6 introduces WebMathematica, a web-based extension of Mathematica that allows interactive computation and visualisation to be delivered through web browsers. It explains what WebMathematica is and why it is used to build web applications that provide access to Mathematica’s powerful computational engine without requiring users to directly work within the Mathematica interface. The chapter highlights the differences between WebMathematica and standard Mathematica, showing how the former is designed for end-users on the web while the latter serves as a development environment. It also outlines how WebMathematica is installed and used to create web applications, including the use of JSP pages, tags, and coding structures. Furthermore, the chapter introduces how variables are assigned within web applications and demonstrates how symbolic calculations and graphics can be implemented online, including interactive visual tools.