# When is Stone-Čech compactification the same as one-point compactification?

For the space $\omega_1$ (with the order topology) we have $\beta\omega_1=\omega_1+1$ (or $\beta[0,\omega_1)=[0,\omega_1]$, if you prefer this notation), i.e., it is an example of a space for which Stone-Čech compactification and one-point compactification (a.k.a. Alexandroff compactification) coincide. (See, for example, this answer and this blog.)

Is there some known characterization of topological spaces such that Stone-Čech compactification $\beta X$ and one-point compactification $\omega X$ are the same?

...[F]or every Tychonoff space $X$ the following conditions are equivalent
1. The space $X$ has a unique (up to equivalence) compactification.
2. The space $X$ is compact or $| \beta X \setminus X | = 1$.
3. If two closed subsets of $X$ are completely separated, then at least one of them is compact.
• @HennoBrandsma you're right: Exercise 6J in Gillman-Jerison is called almost compact spaces and it says that the following conditions are equivalent: (1) Of any two disjoint zero-sets in $X$, at least one is compact. (2) $|\beta X-X|\le1$. (3) $X\subset T$ implies $f(X)\subset f(T)$. (4) Every embedding of $X$ is a C${}^*$-embedding. (5) Every embedding of $X$ is a C-embedding. (6) The only compactification of $X$ is $\beta X$. (7) Every embedding of any continuous image of $X$ is a C-embedding. – Martin Sleziak Mar 26 '13 at 9:27
• @MartinSleziak: You could add (8): The space $X$ admits a unique uniformity. See Chapter II, Exercise 11 (c) in J. R. Isbell, Uniform spaces. – Martin Mar 27 '13 at 16:37