Identity component

In mathematics, specifically group theory, the identity component of a group "G" refers to several closely related notions of the largest connected subgroup of "G" containing the identity element. 
In point set topology, the identity component of a topological group "G" is the connected component "G"0 of "G" that contains the identity element of the group. The identity path component of a topological group "G" is the path component of "G" that contains the identity element of the group. 
In algebraic geometry, the identity component of an algebraic group "G" over a field "k" is the identity component of the underlying topological space. The identity component of a group scheme "G" over a base scheme "S" is, roughly speaking, the group scheme "G"0 whose fiber over the point "s" of "S" is the connected component "(Gs)0" of the fiber "Gs", an algebraic group.
Properties.
The identity component "G"0 of a topological or algebraic group "G" is a closed normal subgroup of "G". It is closed since components are always closed. It is a subgroup since multiplication and inversion in a topological or algebraic group are continuous maps by definition. Moreover, for any continuous automorphism "a" of "G" we have 
Thus, "G"0 is a characteristic subgroup of "G", so it is normal.
The identity component "G"0 of a topological group "G" need not be open in "G". In fact, we may have "G"0 = {"e"}, in which case "G" is totally disconnected. However, the identity component of a locally path-connected space (for instance a Lie group) is always open, since it contains a path-connected neighbourhood of {"e"}; and therefore is a clopen set. 
The identity path component of a topological group may in general be smaller than the identity component (since path connectedness is a stronger condition than connectedness), but these agree if "G" is locally path-connected.
Component group.
The quotient group "G"/"G"0 is called the group of components or component group of "G". Its elements are just the connected components of "G". The component group "G"/"G"0 is a discrete group if and only if "G"0 is open. If "G" is an algebraic group of finite type, such as an affine algebraic group, then "G"/"G"0 is actually a finite group.
One may similarly define the path component group as the group of path components (quotient of "G" by the identity path component), and in general the component group is a quotient of the path component group, but if "G" is locally path connected these groups agree. The path component group can also be characterized as the zeroth homotopy group, formula_1
Examples.
An algebraic group "G" over a topological field "K" admits two natural topologies, the Zariski topology and the topology inherited from "K". The identity component of "G" often changes depending on the topology. For instance, the general linear group GL"n"(R) is connected as an algebraic group but has two path components as a Lie group, the matrices of positive determinant and the matrices of negative determinant. Any connected algebraic group over a non-Archimedean local field "K" is totally disconnected in the "K"-topology and thus has trivial identity component in that topology.