在抽象代数此一数学分支中，幺半群是指一个带有可结合二元运算和单比特的代数结构。幺半群在许多的数学分支中都会出现。在几何学中，幺半群捉取了函数复合的概念；更确切地，此一概念是从范畴论中抽象出来的，之中的幺半群是个带有一个对象的范畴。幺半群也常被用来当做计算机科学的坚固代数基础；在此，变换幺半群和语法幺半群被用来描述有限状态自动机，而迹幺半群和历史幺半群则是做为进程演算和并行计算的基础。幺半群的研究中一些较重要的结论有克罗恩-罗德斯定理和星高问题。

In abstract algebra, a branch of mathematics, a monoid is an algebraic structure with a single associative binary operation and an identity element. Monoids are studied in semigroup theory as they are semigroups with identity. Monoids occur in several branches of mathematics; for instance, they can be regarded as categories with a single object. Thus, they capture the idea of function composition within a set. Monoids are also commonly used in computer science, both in its foundational aspects and in practical programming. The set of strings built from a given set of characters is a free monoid. The transition monoid and syntactic monoid are used in describing finite state machines, whereas trace monoids and history monoids provide a foundation for process calculi and concurrent computing. Some of the more important results in the study of monoids are the Krohn–Rhodes theorem and the star height problem. The history of monoids, as well as a discussion of additional general properties, are found in the article on semigroups.