# Dini derivative

In mathematics and, specifically, real analysis, the Dini derivatives (or Dini derivates) are a class of generalizations of the derivative. The upper Dini derivative, which is also called an upper right-hand derivative,[1] of a continuous function

$f:{\mathbb R} \rightarrow {\mathbb R},$

is denoted by $f'_+,\,$ and defined by

$f'_+(t) \triangleq \limsup_{h \to {0+}} \frac{f(t + h) - f(t)}{h}$

where $\limsup$ is the supremum limit. The lower Dini derivative, $f'_-,\,$, is defined by

$f'_-(t) \triangleq \liminf_{h \to {0+}} \frac{f(t + h) - f(t)}{h}$

where $\liminf$ is the infimum limit.

If $f$ is defined on a vector space, then the upper Dini derivative at $t$ in the direction $d$ is defined by

$f'_+ (t,d) \triangleq \limsup_{h \to {0+}} \frac{f(t + hd) - f(t)}{h}.$

If $f$ is locally Lipschitz, then $f'_+\,$ is finite. If $f$ is differentiable at $t$, then the Dini derivative at $t$ is the usual derivative at $t$.

## Remarks

• Sometimes the notation $D^+ f(t)\,$ is used instead of $f'_+(t),\,$ and $D_+f(t)\,$ is used instead of $f'_-(t).\,$[1]
• Also,
$D^-f(t) \triangleq \limsup_{h \to {0-}} \frac{f(t + h) - f(t)}{h}$

and

$D_-f(t) \triangleq \liminf_{h \to {0-}} \frac{f(t + h) - f(t)}{h}.$
• So when using the $D$ notation of the Dini derivatives, the plus or minus sign indicates the left- or right-hand limit, and the placement of the sign indicates the infimum or supremum limit.
• On the extended reals, each of the Dini derivatives always exist; however, they may take on the values $+ \infty$ or $- \infty$ at times (i.e., the Dini derivatives always exist in the extended sense).