In mathematics, for a field K an ideal class group (or class group) is the quotient group J_K/P_K where J_K is the whole fractional ideals of K and P_K is the principal ideals of K. The extent to which unique factorization fails in the ring of integers of an algebraic number field (or more generally any Dedekind domain) can be described by the ideal class group (or class group). If this group is finite (as it is in the case of the ring of integers of a number field), then the order of the group is called the class number. The multiplicative theory of a Dedekind domain is intimately tied to the structure of its class group. For example, the class group of a Dedekind domain is trivial if and only if the ring is a unique factorization domain.