In mathematics, a non-empty collection of sets 👁 {\displaystyle {\mathcal {R}}}
is called a δ-ring (pronounced "delta-ring") if it is closed under union, relative complementation, and countable intersection. The name "delta-ring" originates from the German word for intersection, "Durchschnitt", which is meant to highlight the ring's closure under countable intersection, in contrast to a 𝜎-ring which is closed under countable unions.

A family of sets 👁 {\displaystyle {\mathcal {R}}}
is called a δ-ring if it has all of the following properties:

1. Closed under finite unions: 👁 {\displaystyle A\cup B\in {\mathcal {R}}}
   for all 👁 {\displaystyle A,B\in {\mathcal {R}},}
   
2. Closed under relative complementation: 👁 {\displaystyle A-B\in {\mathcal {R}}}
   for all 👁 {\displaystyle A,B\in {\mathcal {R}},}
   and
3. Closed under countable intersections: 👁 {\displaystyle \bigcap _{n=1}^{\infty }A_{n}\in {\mathcal {R}}}
   if 👁 {\displaystyle A_{n}\in {\mathcal {R}}}
   for all 👁 {\displaystyle n\in \mathbb {N} .}
   

If only the first two properties are satisfied, then 👁 {\displaystyle {\mathcal {R}}}
is a ring of sets but not a δ-ring. Every 𝜎-ring is a δ-ring, but not every δ-ring is a 𝜎-ring.

δ-rings can be used instead of σ-algebras in the development of measure theory if one does not wish to allow sets of infinite measure.

The family 👁 {\displaystyle {\mathcal {K}}=\{S\subseteq \mathbb {R} :S{\text{ is bounded}}\}}
is a δ-ring but not a 𝜎-ring because 👁 {\textstyle \bigcup _{n=1}^{\infty }[0,n]}
is not bounded.

• Field of sets – Algebraic concept in measure theory, also referred to as an algebra of sets
• 𝜆-system (Dynkin system) – Family closed under complements and countable disjoint unions
• Monotone class – Measure theory and probability theoremPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• π-system – Family of sets closed under intersection
• Ring of sets – Family closed under unions and relative complements
• σ-algebra – Algebraic structure of set algebra
• 𝜎-ideal – Family closed under subsets and countable unions
• 𝜎-ring – Family of sets closed under countable unions

• Cortzen, Allan. "Delta-Ring." From MathWorld—A Wolfram Web Resource, created by Eric W. Weisstein. http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Delta-Ring.html