# Projection operator and closed subspaces

A projection operator on a Hilbert space $H$ is defined as operator that projects a vector $x$ of $H$ onto an closed subspace $S$ of $H$. Why the subspace $S$ has to be closed?

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It depends: exactly what properties would you like your projection operator to have? –  Nate Eldredge Nov 30 '11 at 23:55

$S = \{x: P(x) = x\}$, so if the projection $P$ is continuous $S$ must be closed.
Can we say that if $S$ wasn't closed, the projection $P$ would be discontinuous function at some $x$'s so we couldn't project this $x$'s onto $S$? –  Andyk Dec 1 '11 at 16:36
We might project it onto $S$, but not with a continuous projection. –  Robert Israel Dec 2 '11 at 0:21
Your definition of projection could be regarded redundant. However something interesting is given by the case when your subspace is not closed, but a non-closed dense subset. To which vector do project your $x \notin S$ then?
Can you give an example of such an $S$? –  Srivatsan Dec 1 '11 at 2:58