A ring isomorphism is a bijective φ:RS\varphi:R\to S. Its inverse function φ1:SR\varphi^{-1}:S\to R is then automatically a ring homomorphism.

Remarks

Isomorphic rings have corresponding ideal lattices, unit groups, and ring-theoretic invariants.

Examples
  • The map R[x]/(x)RR[x]/(x)\to R sending f(x)+(x)f(0)f(x)+(x)\mapsto f(0) is a ring isomorphism.
  • For a commutative ring RR, R×RR[t]/(t(t1))R\times R \cong R[t]/(t(t-1)).
  • The inclusion ZQ\mathbb Z\hookrightarrow\mathbb Q is a ring homomorphism but not an isomorphism because it is not surjective.