Simplicial map

In the mathematical discipline of simplicial homology theory, a simplicial map is a map between simplicial complexes with the property that the images of the vertices of a simplex always span a simplex. Note that this implies that vertices have vertices for images.

Simplicial maps are thus determined by their effects on vertices. In particular, there are a finite number of simplicial maps between two given finite simplicial complexes.

Simplicial maps induce continuous maps between the underlying polyhedra of the simplicial complexes: one simply extends linearly using barycentric coordinates.

Simplicial maps which are bijective are called simplicial isomorphisms.

Let ${\displaystyle f:|K|\rightarrow |L|}$ be a continuous map between the underlying polyhedra of simplicial complexes and let us write ${\displaystyle {\text{st}}(v)}$ for the star of a vertex. A simplicial map ${\displaystyle f_{\triangle }:K\rightarrow L}$ such that ${\displaystyle f({\text{st}}(v))\subseteq {\text{st}}(f_{\triangle }(v))}$, is called a simplicial approximation to ${\displaystyle f}$.

...
Wikipedia