The interior of a subset AXA\subseteq X in a (X,T)(X,\mathcal{T}) is

int(A)={UT:UA}.\operatorname{int}(A)=\bigcup\{U\in\mathcal{T}: U\subseteq A\}.
Equivalent characterizations

Equivalently, int(A)\operatorname{int}(A) is the largest contained in AA.

Remarks

A point xx lies in int(A)\operatorname{int}(A) exactly when AA is a of xx. Interior is dual to via complements: int(A)=XXA\operatorname{int}(A)=X\setminus \overline{X\setminus A}.

Examples
  • In R\mathbb{R} with the usual topology, int([0,1])=(0,1)\operatorname{int}([0,1])=(0,1).
  • In R\mathbb{R} with the usual topology, int(Q)=\operatorname{int}(\mathbb{Q})=\varnothing.
  • If UU is open, then int(U)=U\operatorname{int}(U)=U.