Irreducible ideal

A proper ideal $I$ is irreducible if $I=J\cap K$ implies $I=J$ or $I=K$. In a Noetherian ring, every irreducible ideal is a primary ideal; every proper ideal is a finite intersection of irreducible ideals.

In a Noetherian ring, an irreducible ideal is a primary ideal. In its quotient, if $xy=0$ and $x\ne 0$, choose $r$ after the annihilators of powers of $y$ stabilize. Then $(x)\cap (y^r)=0$, so irreducibility forces $y^r=0$. Combined with finite decomposition into irreducible ideals, this proves the Lasker–Noether theorem.