# physics/vb-to-mathbf

Canonicalize vb to an explicit mathbf wrapper.

https://texform.dev/rules/physics/vb-to-mathbf

## Metadata

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Key | physics/vb-to-mathbf |
| Level | faithful |
| Fidelity | render |
| Enabled by packages | physics |
| Profiles | Faithful, Corpus, Equiv |

## Rewrite patterns

### vb

From:

```latex
\vb{#1}
```

To:

```latex
\mathbf{#1}
```

### vb-star

From:

```latex
\vb*{#1}
```

To:

```latex
\boldsymbol{#1}
```

## Examples

Examples show the rule in isolation, not a complete normalization profile.

### vb momentum

Before:

```latex
\vb{p}=mv
```

After this rule:

```latex
\mathbf{p}=mv
```

Packages: base, physics, boldsymbol.

Rendering verified with the declared packages.

### vb star bold italic

Before:

```latex
\vb*{p}+\vb*{\alpha}
```

After this rule:

```latex
\boldsymbol{p}+\boldsymbol{\alpha}
```

Packages: base, physics, boldsymbol.

Rendering verified with the declared packages.

## Triggers

- [\\vb](https://texform.dev/latex/commands/vb)

## Eliminates

- [\\vb](https://texform.dev/latex/commands/vb)

## Produces

- [\\mathbf](https://texform.dev/latex/commands/mathbf)
- [\\boldsymbol](https://texform.dev/latex/commands/boldsymbol)

## Upstream

- [physics/vectorbold-to-vb](https://texform.dev/rules/physics/vectorbold-to-vb): Collapse vectorbold to the short vb helper.

## Same family

- [physics/derivative-to-dv](https://texform.dev/rules/physics/derivative-to-dv): Collapse derivative to the compact dv command.
- [physics/functional-derivative-to-fdv](https://texform.dev/rules/physics/functional-derivative-to-fdv): Collapse long functional derivative names to the fdv command.
- [physics/partial-derivative-to-pdv](https://texform.dev/rules/physics/partial-derivative-to-pdv): Collapse long partial derivative names to the pdv command.
- [physics/vectorarrow-to-va](https://texform.dev/rules/physics/vectorarrow-to-va): Collapse vectorarrow to the short va helper.
- [physics/vectorbold-to-vb](https://texform.dev/rules/physics/vectorbold-to-vb): Collapse vectorbold to the short vb helper.
- [physics/vectorunit-to-vu](https://texform.dev/rules/physics/vectorunit-to-vu): Collapse vectorunit to the short vu helper.
- [physics/dv-to-frac-d](https://texform.dev/rules/physics/dv-to-frac-d): Expand dv forms to explicit d-based derivative fractions.
- [physics/fdv-to-frac-delta](https://texform.dev/rules/physics/fdv-to-frac-delta): Expand fdv forms to explicit delta-based derivative fractions.
- [physics/pdv-to-frac-partial](https://texform.dev/rules/physics/pdv-to-frac-partial): Expand pdv forms to explicit partial-derivative fractions.
- [physics/va-to-vec-mathbf](https://texform.dev/rules/physics/va-to-vec-mathbf): Canonicalize va to an explicit vec-wrapped mathbf form.
- [physics/vu-to-hat-mathbf](https://texform.dev/rules/physics/vu-to-hat-mathbf): Canonicalize vu to an explicit hat-wrapped mathbf form.

## Notes

The star branch is not equivalent to plain mathbf: physics VectorBold uses bold-italic styling and includes lowercase Greek. This rule maps that branch to boldsymbol because it matches the rendered physics output for both Latin and Greek symbols.

## Disable this rule

```python
TransformEngine(profile="corpus", disable_rules=["physics/vb-to-mathbf"])
```

```javascript
new TransformEngine({ profile: 'corpus', disableRules: ['physics/vb-to-mathbf'] })
```

[Open in Playground](https://play.texform.dev/?input=%5Cvb%7Bp%7D%3Dmv)