在数学里的范畴论中，极限的概念融贯了多种构造，包括和、积等等；范畴论中许多泛性质也可从极限来理解。

极限分为极限与余极限（又称上极限），彼此的定义相对偶。在不同场合的别名及英译如下表：

本条目用语取归纳极限与射影极限。

In mathematics, the inverse limit (also called the projective limit or limit) is a construction that allows one to "glue together" several related objects, the precise manner of the gluing process being specified by morphisms between the objects. Inverse limits can be defined in any category.