The contraction mapping theorem states that a map of a nonempty complete metric space into itself, satisfying for some , has a unique fixed point. Iteration from any point converges to it; for example .
Assume is nonempty. Its boundedness makes finite. Symmetry, positivity and separation follow pointwise from , and taking the supremum of proves the triangle inequality. Hence is a uniform metric.
If is a Cauchy sequence in this uniform metric, each converges by completeness of ; denote its limit by . Given , choose so that for . Letting gives for all , so uniformly. To prove continuity, fix and use
Choose so the outside terms are small, then use continuity of for the middle term. Thus , proving completeness of the continuous-map space in the uniform metric.
The contraction subspace is not necessarily complete. On , , , are contraction mappings and converge to the identity by uniform convergence. Their only possible uniform limit is not a contraction, so this Cauchy sequence has no limit in .
Nevertheless the fixed point assignment is continuous. Fix with contraction constant , and put , . Then
Consequently . This proves continuity of the fixed-point assignment at without requiring one contraction constant valid for every .