Categorial properties of compressed zero-divisor graphs of finite commutative rings

Abstract

By modifying the existing definition of a compressed zero-divisor graph [Formula: see text], we define a compressed zero-divisor graph [Formula: see text] of a finite commutative unital ring [Formula: see text], where the compression is performed by means of the associatedness relation (a refinement of the relation used in the definition of [Formula: see text]). We prove that this is the best possible compression which induces a functor [Formula: see text], and that this functor preserves categorial products (in both directions). We use the structure of [Formula: see text] to characterize important classes of finite commutative unital rings, such as local rings and principal ideal rings.