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For a degree-$d$ holomorphic map, $2g_X-2=d(2g_Y-2)+\sum (e_p-1)$.

Let $f:X\to Y$ be a nonconstant holomorphic map between compact Riemann surfaces that are connected spaces, without boundary. Write $g_X,g_Y$ for their genera and $d\ge 1$ for the degree of a holomorphic map. With analytic ramification index $e_p$ at each $p\in X$, the formula isHere $\chi =2-2g$ is the Euler characteristic. Only finitely many ramification points contribute. The holomorphic map is automatically surjective; the valency theorem gives ${\sum }_{p\in f^{-1}(y)}{e}_p=d$ even at a branch value of a holomorphic map. Constant maps are excluded.^[ref]

The useful interpretation is that total ramification of a holomorphic map measures how much the source Euler characteristic falls short of $d$ copies of the target. The ramification of a power map of the Riemann sphere spends that entire correction at two points; the double cover of the sphere with four branch values spends it at four points and produces a genus-one surface.

Count ramification points upstairs in $X$, weighted by $e_p-1$, rather than counting distinct branch values of a holomorphic map downstairs in $Y$. Grouping by fibres givesThe cardinality counts distinct points; the degree of a holomorphic map counts them with their analytic ramification indices. Thus each summand is the number of missing distinct preimages in that fibre.^[ref]

The phrase branch point varies across conventions: to keep the two surfaces distinct, use ramification point for $p\in X$ and branch value of a holomorphic map for $f(p)\in Y$. The existing name branch point of a holomorphic map here denotes the latter. Several ramification points can share one branch value of a holomorphic map.