Definition. Open subset [rmsf-1100][edit]

$\gdef\spaces#1{~ #1 ~}$ $\gdef\CC{\mathbb{C}}$

A subset $U \in \CC$ is called open if for every $z \in U$, there exists a positive real number $r$ such that $D(z,r) \subset U$.

It is equivalent to ask that $U$ be a union of open disks.

The reason we want to consider open subsets is that we want to differentiate. To differentiate, you need to know not just the values of your function at a point, but its value at all points sufficiently close to your point. An open subset is exactly a subset which, if it contains a point, contains all sufficiently close points as well.