is a Data Model.
CellML is an open XML-based language for describing and exchanging mathematical models of biological processes, such as cellular electrophysiology, signaling and metabolism. Models are built from reusable components containing variables, units and equations written in MathML, connected through variable mappings and able to import other models. The standard has three versioned specifications (1.0, 1.1 and 2.0), developed at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute and governed since May 2026 by the CellML Specification Custodian Board. The libCellML library provides a reference implementation for reading, validating, analysing and generating code from CellML 2.0 models.
| ID | Name | URL | Category | Format | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cellml.spec-2.0 | CellML 2.0 Normative Specification | cellml_2_0_normative_specification.pdf (187.5 KB) | Documentation | Normative CellML 2.0 specification, t... | |
| cellml.spec-2.0-informative | CellML 2.0 Informative Specification | cellml-specification.readthedocs.io | Documentation | http | Informative rendering of the CellML 2... |
| cellml.spec-1.1 | CellML 1.1 Specification | cellml_1.1 (1 B) | Documentation | http | CellML 1.1 specification (6 November ... |
| cellml.dtd-1.1 | CellML 1.1 DTD | cellml_1_1.dtd (4.0 KB) | Data Model | txt | Document type definition (DTD) corres... |
| cellml.spec-1.0 | CellML 1.0 Specification | cellml_1.0 (1 B) | Documentation | http | CellML 1.0 specification, the origina... |
| cellml.dtd-1.0 | CellML 1.0 DTD | cellml_1_0.dtd (3.7 KB) | Data Model | txt | Document type definition (DTD) corres... |
| cellml.libcellml | libCellML | libcellml | Process | http | libCellML, a C++ library with Python ... |
| cellml.libcellml-docs | libCellML Documentation | libcellml.org | Documentation | http | libCellML website with user documenta... |
| cellml.specifications | CellML Specifications Index | specifications (1 B) | Documentation | http | CellML website pages listing the Cell... |
| ID | Name | URL | Category | Format | Relation | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| physiome-model-repository.exposures | PMR Exposures | exposure | Graphical Interface | http | was influenced by | Listing of exposures, the published a... |
| physiome-model-repository.workspaces | PMR Workspaces | workspace (1 B) | Product | mixed | was influenced by | Listing of version-controlled model w... |
CellML is an open, XML-based standard for encoding mathematical models of biological processes so that they can be stored, exchanged, reused and simulated by different software tools. It is most widely used for models of cellular electrophysiology, such as cardiac myocyte action potential models, but it applies to any system of ordinary differential and algebraic equations.
A CellML model is made of components. Each component declares variables with physical units and holds equations written in MathML. Variables in different components are linked through connections, and models can import components and units from other CellML documents. This makes it possible to assemble larger models from smaller ones.
libCellML is the reference library for CellML 2.0. It parses, validates, analyses and serializes models and generates C or Python code. It is developed on GitHub under the Apache 2.0 license. Many other tools read CellML, including OpenCOR and Myokit.
The Auckland Bioengineering Institute developed CellML, and an elected CellML Editorial Board governed it. On 16 May 2026 governance passed to a self-sustaining CellML Specification Custodian Board, which can be contacted at editors@cellml.org.
Created: October 05, 2026 | Last modified: October 05, 2026