Topology is a branch of mathematics that studies the properties of space that are preserved under continuous transformations such as stretching and bending, but not tearing or gluing. It provides a foundational framework for understanding concepts of convergence, continuity, and compactness in various mathematical contexts.
A locally path-connected space is a topological space where every point has a neighborhood that is path-connected, meaning any two points within the neighborhood can be connected by a continuous path. This property is crucial for ensuring that the space is path-connected if it is also connected, facilitating the study of continuous functions and homotopy in topology.