TeXipedia

varnothing

Represents the empty set in mathematics, displaying a stylistic variant of the standard null set symbol.

Overview

Provides an alternative, more aesthetically pleasing representation of the empty set compared to the standard \emptyset symbol, particularly favored in modern mathematical typography.

  • Commonly used in set theory and abstract algebra
  • Popular in formal mathematical proofs and academic publications
  • Often preferred when writing about collections, groups, or sets that contain no elements
  • Particularly prevalent in topology, discrete mathematics, and computer science notation

Examples

Expressing that a set is empty in set theory.

A=∅A = \varnothing 
A = \varnothing

Showing the intersection of disjoint sets.

A∩B=∅A \cap B = \varnothing 
A \cap B = \varnothing

Defining the null set in a function's domain.

f:X∖∅→Rf: X \setminus \varnothing \to \mathbb{R} 
f: X \setminus \varnothing \to \mathbb{R}