> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://ayakaleaf-pro.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Symbol Palette

> Insert math symbols by browsing, searching, or drawing the symbol you have in mind.

The symbol palette inserts math symbols into your document. If you do not know a symbol's name, draw it and your browser finds the command. Nothing needs to be set up.

## Insert a symbol

**1. Put the cursor inside math**

Most symbols only work inside math. Click where the symbol should go. In the editor toolbar, click **Insert math**, then **Inline**. The cursor is now between `\(` and `\)`.

![The Insert math menu with Inline and Display, and the cursor after The angle on line 13](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/PeD9iteXIf8j4GXw/images/on-premises/symbol-palette-math-menu.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=PeD9iteXIf8j4GXw\&q=85\&s=2fb238fac0acb1c3ab99f862476ab485)

The Insert math menu

**2. Open the palette**

In the toolbar, click the **Ω** button, **Insert symbol**. You can also click **Insert**, then **Symbol**, at the top of the page. The palette opens below the editor.

![The editor with the symbol palette below it, showing the tabs Greek, Arrows, Operators, Relations and Misc](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/PeD9iteXIf8j4GXw/images/on-premises/symbol-palette-open.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=PeD9iteXIf8j4GXw\&q=85\&s=9fe6049d14978b13ed62aa1e9f1ddda4)

The symbol palette

**3. Find the symbol**

Click a tab: **Greek**, **Arrows**, **Operators**, **Relations** or **Misc**. Hold the pointer over a symbol to see its name and command. Some also show a note, such as the package they need.

![The Misc tab with a tooltip on a symbol: Empty set, \varnothing, Requires \usepackage\{amssymb}](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/PeD9iteXIf8j4GXw/images/on-premises/symbol-palette-tooltip.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=PeD9iteXIf8j4GXw\&q=85\&s=386516b77edfd10bb6491ffec0d9994b)

The name, command and note of a symbol

**4. Click it**

The command appears at the cursor. The palette stays open, so you can add the next symbol right away. Click **Recompile** to see the symbol in the PDF.

![The editor with \alpha between \\( and \\), and the PDF showing The angle followed by the letter alpha](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/PeD9iteXIf8j4GXw/images/on-premises/symbol-palette-compiled.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=PeD9iteXIf8j4GXw\&q=85\&s=0be9f7d2f305340109031b0816cd5b24)

The symbol in the document and the PDF

The palette works the same way in the **Visual** editor.

## Search for a symbol

Type in the **Search** box. You can search for a command (`\sum`), a word from the symbol's name (`arrow`), or the character itself (`α`). The search covers all the tabs. Clear the box to go back to the tabs.

![The Search box with arrow typed in and ten arrows below it](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/PeD9iteXIf8j4GXw/images/on-premises/symbol-palette-search.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=PeD9iteXIf8j4GXw\&q=85\&s=c703df199064843914f2f7767a8ed185)

Searching for arrow

If nothing matches, the palette shows **No symbols found**.

## Draw a symbol

Use this when you can picture a symbol but do not know its name.

**1. Click the pencil icon**

Click the pencil icon, **Draw a symbol**, to the right of the **Search** box. The tabs are greyed out and a dashed box appears on the right.

**Loading model…** shows until the recognition is ready. The first time, your browser downloads about 40 MB from your site. After that it keeps these files.

![Draw mode with the pencil icon highlighted, the instructions on the left and an empty dashed box on the right](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/PeD9iteXIf8j4GXw/images/on-premises/symbol-palette-draw-empty.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=PeD9iteXIf8j4GXw\&q=85\&s=e559e38c5f311f38daea1c32a387b386)

Draw mode

**2. Draw in the dashed box**

When you finish a stroke, up to ten matches appear on the left, the closest first. Hold the pointer over one to see its command. A symbol with several strokes updates the matches after each stroke.

![An infinity sign drawn in the box, ten matches on the left, and a tooltip on the first one: Infinity, \infty](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/PeD9iteXIf8j4GXw/images/on-premises/symbol-palette-draw-results.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=PeD9iteXIf8j4GXw\&q=85\&s=446627e662a16433870695bf987f6dc8)

The matches for a drawing

**3. Click the match**

The command appears at the cursor. Your drawing stays, so you can try another match. Click **Clear** before you draw the next symbol.

![The editor with \infty between \\( and \\), and the drawing and its matches still in the palette](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/PeD9iteXIf8j4GXw/images/on-premises/symbol-palette-draw-inserted.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=PeD9iteXIf8j4GXw\&q=85\&s=f068978b1256c66970624280ec97b0ca)

The command at the cursor

To go back to the tabs, click the pencil icon again or click the **Search** box.

The recognition runs in your browser. Your drawing is not sent to your site.

### Matches that need a package

Drawing knows more than 1,300 commands, while the tabs list 117. Many of the others come from a LaTeX package. In that case the tooltip shows the line to add.

![A tooltip on a match: \varpropto, \usepackage\{amssymb}](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/PeD9iteXIf8j4GXw/images/on-premises/symbol-palette-draw-package.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=PeD9iteXIf8j4GXw\&q=85\&s=ab1c7c1c6832bdc367d9e31d2e12e17a)

A match that needs a package

Add the line to your preamble, before `\begin{document}`:

```latex theme={null}
\usepackage{amssymb}
```

The palette does not add it for you.

## Use the keyboard

From the **Search** box, press Tab until a symbol is selected. The arrow keys move between symbols. Enter inserts the selected symbol and closes the palette.

## Close the palette

Click the **×** at the top right of the palette. The **Ω** button and **Insert**, then **Symbol**, also close it.

## If something goes wrong

| What you see | Why | What to do |
| - | - | - |
| The compile says **Missing \$ inserted** | The symbol is outside math | Move it between `\(` and `\)`, or use **Insert math** first |
| The compile says **Undefined control sequence** | The command needs a package | Hold the pointer over the symbol in the palette to see which one, and add it to your preamble |
| There is no pencil icon | Your browser cannot run the recognition, for example Safari 15 | Update your browser or use another one. The tabs and the search still work |
| **Recognition unavailable** below the dashed box | The browser could not load the recognition files | Click **Please try again** |


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