What (who) is continuous map - definition
![The graph of a [[cubic function]] has no jumps or holes. The function is continuous.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Brent method example.svg?width=200 "The graph of a [[cubic function]] has no jumps or holes. The function is continuous.")
![section 2.1.3]]).](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Discontinuity of the sign function at 0.svg?width=200 "section 2.1.3]]).")
![Riemann sphere]] is often used as a model to study of functions like the example.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Function-1 x.svg?width=200 "Riemann sphere]] is often used as a model to study of functions like the example.")
![The graph of a continuous [[rational function]]. The function is not defined for <math>x = -2.</math> The vertical and horizontal lines are [[asymptote]]s.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Homografia.svg?width=200 "The graph of a continuous [[rational function]]. The function is not defined for <math>x = -2.</math> The vertical and horizontal lines are [[asymptote]]s.")
![oscillation]].](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Rapid Oscillation.svg?width=200 "oscillation]].")
.svg?width=200 "Point plot of Thomae's function on the interval (0,1). The topmost point in the middle shows f(1/2) = 1/2.")
![A degree two map of a [[sphere]] onto itself.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sphere wrapped round itself.png?width=200 "A degree two map of a [[sphere]] onto itself.")
Wikipedia
In mathematics, a continuous function is a function such that a continuous variation (that is a change without jump) of the argument induces a continuous variation of the value of the function. This means that there are no abrupt changes in value, known as discontinuities. More precisely, a function is continuous if arbitrarily small changes in its value can be assured by restricting to sufficiently small changes of its argument. A discontinuous function is a function that is not continuous. Up until the 19th century, mathematicians largely relied on intuitive notions of continuity, and considered only continuous functions. The epsilon–delta definition of a limit was introduced to formalize the definition of continuity.
Continuity is one of the core concepts of calculus and mathematical analysis, where arguments and values of functions are real and complex numbers. The concept has been generalized to functions between metric spaces and between topological spaces. The latter are the most general continuous functions, and their definition is the basis of topology.
A stronger form of continuity is uniform continuity. In order theory, especially in domain theory, a related concept of continuity is Scott continuity.
As an example, the function H(t) denoting the height of a growing flower at time t would be considered continuous. In contrast, the function M(t) denoting the amount of money in a bank account at time t would be considered discontinuous, since it "jumps" at each point in time when money is deposited or withdrawn.
