Definition:Immediate Successor Element

Definition
Let $\left({S, \preceq}\right)$ be a poset.

Let $a, b \in S$.

Then $a$ is the immediate successor (element) to $b$ iff $b$ is the immediate predecessor (element) to $a$.

That is, iff:
 * $(1): \quad b \prec a$
 * $(2): \quad \neg \exists c \in S: b \prec c \prec a$

That is, there exists no element strictly between $b$ and $a$ in the ordering.

We say that $a$ immediately succeeds $b$.

Also known as
Some sources just refer to the successor (element).

However, compare this with the definition on this site for successor element.

If $a$ immediately succeeds $b$, some sources will say that $a$ covers $b$.

Also see

 * Succeed
 * Strictly Succeed


 * Immediate Predecessor Element


 * Non-Maximal Element of Well-Ordered Class has Immediate Successor