A path-connected space has, for every pair , a continuous path with and . Every path-connected space is a connected space, because a separation of the target would pull a joining path apart and contradict connectedness of an interval.
Suppose a path-connected space had a separation as above. Choose , , and a continuous path joining them. The nonempty disjoint sets and would separate , contradicting connectedness of an interval. Hence path-connectedness implies connectedness. Equivalently, the connected path image from part (i) cannot meet both sides of a separation.
Path-connectedness implies connectedness 2026-10-31
If had a separation into two disjoint nonempty open subsets, a continuous path joining points in the two subsets would pull it back to a separation of . This contradicts connectedness of an interval. Thus every path-connected space is connected. The converse fails, for example for the topologist's sine curve with its limiting vertical segment.