In algebraic geometry, the theorem of absolute (cohomological) purity is an important theorem in the theory of étale cohomology. It states:^[1] given

• a regular scheme X over some base scheme,
• ${\displaystyle i:Z\to X}$ a closed immersion of a regular scheme of pure codimension r,
• an integer n that is invertible on the base scheme,
• ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {F))}$ a locally constant étale sheaf with finite stalks and values in ${\displaystyle \mathbb {Z} /n\mathbb {Z} }$,

for each integer ${\displaystyle m\geq 0}$, the map

${\displaystyle \operatorname {H} ^{m}(Z_{\text{ét));{\mathcal {F)))\to \operatorname {H} _{Z}^{m+2r}(X_{\text{ét));{\mathcal {F))(r))}$

is bijective, where the map is induced by cup product with ${\displaystyle c_{r}(Z)}$.

The theorem was introduced in SGA 5 Exposé I, § 3.1.4. as an open problem. Later, Thomason proved it for large n and Gabber in general.