In topology and related branches of mathematics, the Kuratowski closure axioms are a set of axioms which can be used to define a topological structure on a set. They are equivalent to the more commonly used open set definition. They were first introduced by Kazimierz Kuratowski, in a slightly different form that applied only to Hausdorff spaces.
A similar set of axioms can be used to define a topological structure using only the dual notion of interior operator.
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Definition [edit]
A topological space
is a set
with a function
called the closure operator where
is the power set of
.
The closure operator has to satisfy the following properties for all 
(Extensivity)
(Idempotence)
(Preservation of binary unions)
(Preservation of nullary unions)
If the second axiom, that of idempotence, is relaxed, then the axioms define a preclosure operator.
Connection to other axiomatizations of topology [edit]
Induction of a topology [edit]
A point
is called close to
in
if 
By defining a closure operator on
a topology as defined usually (a set containing all open sets) is naturally induced as follows. A set
is called open if and only if
and we construct
. The pair
then obeys the Open Sets Definition of a topological space:
Empty and complete sets are open: 
By Extensitivity
and since
we know that
, therefore
. From Preservation of nullary unions follows similarly
.
Any union of open sets is open:
Let
be a set of Indices and we unite every
where
is open for every
. By De Morgan's laws is
therefore
.

And by Preservation of binary unions:


.
Hence
And together with Extensivity follows
Therefore, A is open.
The intersection of any finite number of open sets is open.
Let
be a finite set of Indices with
open
.
From the Preservation of nullary unions follows by induction:


is open.
Recovering topological definitions [edit]
A function between two topological spaces
is called continuous if for all subsets
of 
See also [edit]
External links [edit]
Alternative Characterizations of Topological Spaces
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