Algebras with a compatible uniformity

Given a variety of algebras V, we study categories of algebras in V with a compatible structure of uniform space. The lattice of compatible uniformities of an algebra, Unif A, can be considered a generalization of the lattice of congruences Con A. Mal'cev properties of V influence the structure of Unif A, much as they do that of Con A. The category V[CHUnif] of complete, Hausdor. such algebras in the variety V is particularly interesting; it has a factorization system , and V embeds into V[CHUnif] in such a way that is the subcategory of onto and the subcategory of one-one homomorphisms. Received February 17, 2000; accepted in final form April 1, 2001.