Definition:Compactification

Definition
Let $\left({X, \tau_1}\right)$ be a topological space.

Let $\left({Y, \tau_2}\right)$ be a compact space.

Let $f: X \to Y$ be a topological embedding.

Let $f \left({X}\right)$ be everywhere dense in $Y$.

Then either $f$ or $\left({Y, \tau_2}\right)$ may be called a compactification of $\left({X, \tau_1}\right)$.

Warning
The latter case can be confusing under certain circumstances.

Its use should usually be limited to one of the following situations:
 * $(1): \quad X \cap Y = \varnothing$
 * $(2): \quad \left({X, \tau_1}\right)$ is a subspace of $\left({Y, \tau_2}\right)$ and $f$ is the inclusion mapping.

Also defined as
Many writers require the space $Y$ to be a Hausdorff space.

Some writers do not require density.

Some writers describe constructs as compactifications though those constructs may not be compact in all circumstances.