Local fibre dimension (${\dim }_x{X}_{f(x)}$)

The dimension of the fibre of a morphism locally at its source point $x$: the maximum of the dimensions of the fibre's irreducible components through $x$. This differs from the Krull dimension of the local ring at a nonclosed point.

For a finite-type morphism of schemes, local fibre dimension is upper semicontinuous on the source, in the displayed sense. If the morphism is proper, the maximal fibre dimension is also upper semicontinuous on the target. Without properness a component of a large fibre can disappear from the source over a special point, so the target statement is not valid in that generality. The Stacks Project: dimension of fibres distinguishes these statements.