surjective

1 definition found

surjective - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  surjection
  onto
  surjective
  
     <mathematics> A function f : A -> B is surjective or onto or a
     surjection if f A = B.  I.e. f can return any value in B.
     This means that its image is its codomain.
  
     Only surjections have right inverses, f' : B -> A where
     f (f' x) = x since if f were not a surjection there would be
     elements of B for which f' was not defined.
  
     See also bijection, injection.
  
     (1995-05-27)