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On a compact smooth manifold without boundary, every smooth self-map sufficiently $C^1$-close to a diffeomorphism is a diffeomorphism. Reducing to a map near the identity, invertibility of its differential follows uniformly by compactness. It is then a proper local diffeomorphism, hence a finite covering map. Sufficient $C^0$ closeness gives a homotopy to the identity on each component; its induced map on the fundamental group is surjective. The covering therefore has one sheet on each component, proving the assertion. This lets a nearby Lagrangian submanifold transverse to cotangent fibers be represented by a single global differential one-form graph.

A contraction is a homotopy from the identity map of $X$ to a constant map. Its existence says that $X$ is a contractible space. For a tree, choosing a root and moving each point along its unique finite path to that root gives a contraction, with continuity understood in the weak topology of a CW complex.

A nonzero topological degree obstructs smooth unwinding with fixed boundary data, but does not by itself give a stable finite size. In three dimensions a two-derivative energy scales as $R$ and can decrease as a configuration shrinks at fixed degree. The four-derivative Skyrme term scales as $R^{-1}$ and can balance this tendency. Derrick theorem addresses the energetic issue; a singular limiting configuration can evade smooth homotopy conservation.

Although topological degree classifies maps $S^n\to S^n$ up to homotopy, it is not a complete invariant for other manifolds. On the torus, the identity and the integer shear $\left(\begin{array}{cc}1& 1\\ 0& 1\end{array}\right)$ both have degree one, but induce distinct maps on $H_1(T^2;\mathbb{Z})$ and cannot be homotopic.

For a map $f:S^m\to S^m$, the degree is the integer by which $f_{\ast }$ multiplies a chosen generator of $H_m(S^m;\mathbb{Z})$. It is invariant under homotopy.

A graded algebra equipped with a degree-one differential satisfying $d(ab)=d(a)b+(-1{)}^{|a|}ad(b)$ and $d^2=0$. Its cohomology inherits a graded algebra structure. In rational homotopy, a Sullivan minimal model is a free graded-commutative differential graded algebra with decomposable generator differentials.

A free homotopy between maps is an ordinary homotopy with no specified basepoint held fixed. Two loops at the same basepoint are freely homotopic precisely when their elements of the fundamental group are conjugate: a homotopy traces a connecting basepoint path, and the boundary of its parameter square gives conjugation. Conversely that connecting path can be slid around the loop to realize the conjugation.

An equivalence class of continuous maps under homotopy, with any endpoint or boundary restrictions specified. Unbased loop classes are free homotopy classes; periods of a closed differential form are constant on such classes.

For maps between oriented connected closed manifolds of the same dimension, a homotopy induces equal maps on top-dimensional homology, hence equal coefficients on the fundamental class. For smooth maps and a smooth homotopy, the degree by integration of a pullback volume form gives another proof: the Generalized Stokes theorem on the homotopy cylinder makes the difference of endpoint pullback integrals zero because the target top form is closed. This is an obstruction to extending a degree-one sphere identity over a ball.

A homotopy sphere is a closed manifold with the homotopy type of a sphere of the same dimension. In dimensions at least two, a closed simply connected integral homology sphere is a homotopy sphere: successive applications of the Hurewicz theorem produce a map from the sphere inducing an isomorphism on integral homology, and the homological Whitehead theorem makes it a homotopy equivalence. The topological generalized Poincare theorem identifies its topological type, while prescribed smooth structures require a separate question.

Inclusion, the map sending an absolute disk class to a relative one, and restriction to the disk boundary give this exact sequence. Its low-dimensional end is interpreted with pointed sets and the usual fundamental-group action. For a mapping-cylinder pair it measures the failure of a map to induce homotopy isomorphisms.