Definition:Codomain (Relation Theory)/Mapping

Definition
Let $f: S \to T$ be a mapping.

The codomain of $f$ is the set $T$.

It can be denoted $\operatorname{Cdm} \left({f}\right)$ or $\operatorname{Cod} \left({f}\right)$.

Also known as
Some sources, for example, also refer to the codomain as the arrival set.

On rare occasions, the codomain is referred to as the target.

A note on terminology
Some sources refer to the codomain of a mapping as its range.

However, other sources equate the term range with the image set.

Other sources brush the question aside by refraining from giving the codomain a name at all.

As there exists significant ambiguity as to whether the range is to mean the codomain or image set, it is advised that the term range is not used.

The notation $\operatorname{Cdm} \left({f}\right)$ has not actually been found by this author anywhere in the literature. In fact, except in the field of category theory, no symbol for the concept of codomain has been found, despite extensive searching.

However, using $\operatorname{Cdm}$ to mean codomain is a useful enough shorthand to be worth coining. That is the approach which has been taken on this website.

Also see

 * Definition:Domain of Mapping
 * Definition:Range


 * Definition:Image Set of Mapping
 * Definition:Preimage of Mapping