Definition:Zero Divisor/Commutative Ring

Definition
Let $\struct {R, +, \circ}$ be a commutative ring.

A zero divisor (in $R$) is an element $x \in R$ such that:


 * $\exists y \in R^*: x \circ y = 0_R$

where $R^*$ is defined as $R \setminus \set {0_R}$.

The expression:
 * $x$ is a zero divisor

can be written:
 * $x \divides 0_R$

Also known as
Some sources hyphenate, as: zero-divisor. Some run the words together: zerodivisor.

Some use the more explicit and pedantic divisor of zero.

Also defined as
Some sources define a zero-divisor as an element $x \in R^*$ such that:
 * $\exists y \in R^*: x \circ y = 0_R$

where $R^*$ is defined as $R \setminus \set {0_R}$.

That is, the element $0_R$ itself is not classified as a zero divisor.

This definition is the same as the one given on this website as Proper Zero Divisor.

Also see

 * Definition:Proper Zero Divisor