---
tag: 0DQPNJNPYK
kind: concept
name: Well-founded relation
aliases: [well-foundedness]
msc: ["03E20"]
sources:
  - url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Well-founded_relation
    locator: lead section
same_as:
  wikidata: Q338021
  wikipedia: Well-founded relation
---

## Summary

A relation is well-founded when each nonempty subset has a minimal element for it.
Then there is no infinite descending chain.