Definition:Local Basis

Definition
Let $T = \left({S, \tau}\right)$ be a topological space.

Let $x$ be an element of $S$.

A local basis at $x$ is a set $\mathcal B$ of open neighborhoods of $x$ such that:
 * $\forall U \in \tau: x \in U \implies \exists H \in \mathcal B: H \subseteq U$

That is, such that every open neighborhood of $x$ also contains some set in $\mathcal B$.

Also defined as
Some more modern sources suggest that in order to be a local basis, the neighborhoods of which the set $\mathcal B$ consists of do not need to be open.

Such a structure is referred to on as a neighborhood basis.

Also known as
A local basis is also known as a neighborhood basis, but that term is used on for a weaker notion.