Near-field (mathematics)

In mathematics, particularly in the context of algebra and number theory, a "near-field" may refer to a structure similar to a field, but with weaker properties. A near-field typically satisfies most properties of a field except for certain requirements, such as the existence of multiplicative inverses for all non-zero elements. However, the concept of "near-field" is not as widely recognized or standardized as fields, rings, or groups.