What is TeX?

The list below provides you with a brief description of the TeX package's use, availability, and capabilities.

• TeX is a typesetting language designed especially for math and science. It therefore has many special symbols and commands to help format mathematics with great precision.
• TeX is portable. It is available on many computers, including VAXes, Suns, PC-compatibles, Macintoshes and mainframes. TeX documents can be moved easily from one system to another, as long as the fonts required are on both systems. TeX is currently in wide use internationally in many types of settings, from universities to T.V. Guide.
• TeX comes with its own set of fonts, called "Computer Modern". These fonts exist in a variety of styles, including serif, sans serif, and typewriter (fixed pitch).
• TeX produces "device independent" (DVI) files that are in binary format (not readable to humans). To produce output for a particular printer, you use a separate program called a "device driver" to convert the DVI file to a format acceptable by the printer you are using. Device drivers for the screen are called previewers. (Textures hides the production of the DVI file, producing screen-readable output on the Macintosh in one step.)
• TeX has extensive macro-writing capabilities, making it possible to create commands that simplify its use.

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