diff --git a/src/analysis/normed_space/spectrum.lean b/src/analysis/normed_space/spectrum.lean
index 4dfe44551d13f..1529e7b246779 100644
--- a/src/analysis/normed_space/spectrum.lean
+++ b/src/analysis/normed_space/spectrum.lean
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import analysis.special_functions.pow
 import analysis.special_functions.exponential
 import analysis.complex.liouville
 import analysis.analytic.radius_liminf
+import topology.algebra.module.character_space
 /-!
 # The spectrum of elements in a complete normed algebra
 
@@ -453,3 +454,27 @@ continuous_linear_map.op_norm_eq_of_bounds zero_le_one
 end nontrivially_normed_field
 
 end alg_hom
+
+namespace weak_dual
+
+namespace character_space
+
+variables [normed_field 𝕜] [normed_ring A] [complete_space A] [norm_one_class A]
+variables [normed_algebra 𝕜 A]
+
+/-- The equivalence between characters and algebra homomorphisms into the base field. -/
+def equiv_alg_hom : (character_space 𝕜 A) ≃ (A →ₐ[𝕜] 𝕜)  :=
+{ to_fun := to_alg_hom,
+  inv_fun := λ f,
+  { val := f.to_continuous_linear_map,
+    property := by { rw eq_set_map_one_map_mul, exact ⟨map_one f, map_mul f⟩ } },
+  left_inv := λ f, subtype.ext $ continuous_linear_map.ext $ λ x, rfl,
+  right_inv := λ f, alg_hom.ext $ λ x, rfl }
+
+@[simp] lemma equiv_alg_hom_coe (f : character_space 𝕜 A) : ⇑(equiv_alg_hom f) = f := rfl
+
+@[simp] lemma equiv_alg_hom_symm_coe  (f : A →ₐ[𝕜] 𝕜) : ⇑(equiv_alg_hom.symm f) = f := rfl
+
+end character_space
+
+end weak_dual
diff --git a/src/analysis/normed_space/star/gelfand_duality.lean b/src/analysis/normed_space/star/gelfand_duality.lean
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..9c79754e4b49d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/analysis/normed_space/star/gelfand_duality.lean
@@ -0,0 +1,169 @@
+/-
+Copyright (c) 2022 Jireh Loreaux. All rights reserved.
+Reeased under Apache 2.0 license as described in the file LICENSE.
+Authors: Jireh Loreaux
+-/
+import analysis.normed_space.star.spectrum
+import analysis.normed.group.quotient
+import analysis.normed_space.algebra
+import topology.continuous_function.units
+import topology.continuous_function.compact
+import topology.algebra.algebra
+import topology.continuous_function.stone_weierstrass
+
+/-!
+# Gelfand Duality
+
+The `gelfand_transform` is an algebra homomorphism from a topological `𝕜`-algebra `A` to
+`C(character_space 𝕜 A, 𝕜)`. In the case where `A` is a commutative complex Banach algebra, then
+the Gelfand transform is actually spectrum-preserving (`spectrum.gelfand_transform_eq`). Moreover,
+when `A` is a commutative C⋆-algebra over `ℂ`, then the Gelfand transform is a surjective isometry,
+and even an equivalence between C⋆-algebras.
+
+## Main definitions
+
+* `ideal.to_character_space` : constructs an element of the character space from a maximal ideal in
+  a commutative complex Banach algebra
+
+## Main statements
+
+* `spectrum.gelfand_transform_eq` : the Gelfand transform is spectrum-preserving when the algebra is
+  a commutative complex Banach algebra.
+* `gelfand_transform_isometry` : the Gelfand transform is an isometry when the algebra is a
+  commutative (unital) C⋆-algebra over `ℂ`.
+* `gelfand_transform_bijective` : the Gelfand transform is bijective when the algebra is a
+  commutative (unital) C⋆-algebra over `ℂ`.
+
+## TODO
+
+* After `star_alg_equiv` is defined, realize `gelfand_transform` as a `star_alg_equiv`.
+* Prove that if `A` is the unital C⋆-algebra over `ℂ` generated by a fixed normal element `x` in
+  a larger C⋆-algebra `B`, then `character_space ℂ A` is homeomorphic to `spectrum ℂ x`.
+* From the previous result, construct the **continuous functional calculus**.
+* Show that if `X` is a compact Hausdorff space, then `X` is (canonically) homeomorphic to
+  `character_space ℂ C(X, ℂ)`.
+* Conclude using the previous fact that the functors `C(⬝, ℂ)` and `character_space ℂ ⬝` along with
+  the canonical homeomorphisms described above constitute a natural contravariant equivalence of
+  the categories of compact Hausdorff spaces (with continuous maps) and commutative unital
+  C⋆-algebras (with unital ⋆-algebra homomoprhisms); this is known as **Gelfand duality**.
+
+## Tags
+
+Gelfand transform, character space, C⋆-algebra
+-/
+
+open weak_dual
+open_locale nnreal
+
+section complex_banach_algebra
+open ideal
+
+variables {A : Type*} [normed_comm_ring A] [normed_algebra ℂ A] [complete_space A]
+  [norm_one_class A] (I : ideal A) [ideal.is_maximal I]
+
+/-- Every maximal ideal in a commutative complex Banach algebra gives rise to a character on that
+algebra. In particular, the character, which may be identified as an algebra homomorphism due to
+`weak_dual.character_space.equiv_alg_hom`, is given by the composition of the quotient map and
+the Gelfand-Mazur isomorphism `normed_ring.alg_equiv_complex_of_complete`. -/
+noncomputable def ideal.to_character_space : character_space ℂ A :=
+character_space.equiv_alg_hom.symm $ ((@normed_ring.alg_equiv_complex_of_complete (A ⧸ I) _ _
+  (by { letI := quotient.field I, exact @is_unit_iff_ne_zero (A ⧸ I) _ }) _).symm :
+  A ⧸ I →ₐ[ℂ] ℂ).comp
+  (quotient.mkₐ ℂ I)
+
+lemma ideal.to_character_space_apply_eq_zero_of_mem {a : A} (ha : a ∈ I) :
+  I.to_character_space a = 0 :=
+begin
+  unfold ideal.to_character_space,
+  simpa only [character_space.equiv_alg_hom_symm_coe, alg_hom.coe_comp,
+    alg_equiv.coe_alg_hom, quotient.mkₐ_eq_mk, function.comp_app, quotient.eq_zero_iff_mem.mpr ha,
+    spectrum.zero_eq, normed_ring.alg_equiv_complex_of_complete_symm_apply]
+    using set.eq_of_mem_singleton (set.singleton_nonempty (0 : ℂ)).some_mem,
+end
+
+/-- If `a : A` is not a unit, then some character takes the value zero at `a`. This is equivlaent
+to `gelfand_transform ℂ A a` takes the value zero at some character. -/
+lemma weak_dual.character_space.exists_apply_eq_zero {a : A} (ha : ¬ is_unit a) :
+  ∃ f : character_space ℂ A, f a = 0 :=
+begin
+  unfreezingI { obtain ⟨M, hM, haM⟩ := (span {a}).exists_le_maximal (span_singleton_ne_top ha) },
+  exact ⟨M.to_character_space, M.to_character_space_apply_eq_zero_of_mem
+    (haM (mem_span_singleton.mpr ⟨1, (mul_one a).symm⟩))⟩,
+end
+
+/-- The Gelfand transform is spectrum-preserving. -/
+lemma spectrum.gelfand_transform_eq (a : A) : spectrum ℂ (gelfand_transform ℂ A a) = spectrum ℂ a :=
+begin
+  refine set.subset.antisymm (alg_hom.spectrum_apply_subset (gelfand_transform ℂ A) a) (λ z hz, _),
+  obtain ⟨f, hf⟩ := weak_dual.character_space.exists_apply_eq_zero hz,
+  simp only [map_sub, sub_eq_zero, alg_hom_class.commutes, algebra.id.map_eq_id, ring_hom.id_apply]
+    at hf,
+  exact (continuous_map.spectrum_eq_range (gelfand_transform ℂ A a)).symm ▸ ⟨f, hf.symm⟩,
+end
+
+instance : nonempty (character_space ℂ A) :=
+begin
+  haveI := norm_one_class.nontrivial A,
+  exact ⟨classical.some $
+    weak_dual.character_space.exists_apply_eq_zero (zero_mem_nonunits.mpr zero_ne_one)⟩,
+end
+
+end complex_banach_algebra
+
+section complex_cstar_algebra
+
+variables (A : Type*) [normed_comm_ring A] [normed_algebra ℂ A] [complete_space A]
+variables [star_ring A] [cstar_ring A] [star_module ℂ A] [nontrivial A]
+
+/-- The Gelfand transform is an isometry when the algebra is a C⋆-algebra over `ℂ`. -/
+lemma gelfand_transform_isometry : isometry (gelfand_transform ℂ A) :=
+begin
+  refine add_monoid_hom_class.isometry_of_norm (gelfand_transform ℂ A) (λ a, _),
+  have gt_map_star : gelfand_transform ℂ A (star a) = star (gelfand_transform ℂ A a),
+    from continuous_map.ext (λ φ, map_star φ a),
+  /- By `spectrum.gelfand_transform_eq`, the spectra of `star a * a` and its
+  `gelfand_transform` coincide. Therefore, so do their spectral radii, and since they are
+  self-adjoint, so also do their norms. Applying the C⋆-property of the norm and taking square
+  roots shows that the norm is preserved. -/
+  have : spectral_radius ℂ (gelfand_transform ℂ A (star a * a)) = spectral_radius ℂ (star a * a),
+  { unfold spectral_radius, rw spectrum.gelfand_transform_eq, },
+  simp only [map_mul, gt_map_star, (is_self_adjoint.star_mul_self _).spectral_radius_eq_nnnorm,
+    ennreal.coe_eq_coe, cstar_ring.nnnorm_star_mul_self, ←sq] at this,
+  simpa only [function.comp_app, nnreal.sqrt_sq]
+    using congr_arg ((coe : ℝ≥0 → ℝ) ∘ ⇑nnreal.sqrt) this,
+end
+
+/-- The Gelfand transform is bijective when the algebra is a C⋆-algebra over `ℂ`. -/
+lemma gelfand_transform_bijective : function.bijective (gelfand_transform ℂ A) :=
+begin
+  refine ⟨(gelfand_transform_isometry A).injective, _⟩,
+  suffices : (gelfand_transform ℂ A).range = ⊤,
+  { exact λ x, this.symm ▸ (gelfand_transform ℂ A).mem_range.mp (this.symm ▸ algebra.mem_top) },
+  /- Because the `gelfand_transform ℂ A` is an isometry, it has closed range, and so by the
+  Stone-Weierstrass theorem, it suffices to show that the image of the Gelfand transform separates
+  points in `C(character_space ℂ A, ℂ)` and is closed under `star`. -/
+  have h : (gelfand_transform ℂ A).range.topological_closure = (gelfand_transform ℂ A).range,
+  from le_antisymm (subalgebra.topological_closure_minimal _ le_rfl
+    (gelfand_transform_isometry A).closed_embedding.closed_range)
+    (subalgebra.subalgebra_topological_closure _),
+  refine h ▸ continuous_map.subalgebra_is_R_or_C_topological_closure_eq_top_of_separates_points
+    _ (λ _ _, _) (λ f hf, _),
+  /- Separating points just means that elements of the `character_space` which agree at all points
+  of `A` are the same functional, which is just extensionality. -/
+  { contrapose!,
+    exact λ h, subtype.ext (continuous_linear_map.ext $
+      λ a, h (gelfand_transform ℂ A a) ⟨gelfand_transform ℂ A a, ⟨a, rfl⟩, rfl⟩), },
+  /- If `f = gelfand_transform ℂ A a`, then `star f` is also in the range of `gelfand_transform ℂ A`
+  using the argument `star a`. The key lemma below may be hard to spot; it's `map_star` coming from
+  `weak_dual.star_hom_class`, which is a nontrivial result. -/
+  { obtain ⟨f, ⟨a, rfl⟩, rfl⟩ := subalgebra.mem_map.mp hf,
+    refine ⟨star a, continuous_map.ext $ λ ψ, _⟩,
+    simpa only [gelfand_transform_apply_apply, map_star, ring_hom.coe_monoid_hom,
+      alg_equiv.coe_alg_hom, ring_hom.to_monoid_hom_eq_coe, alg_equiv.to_alg_hom_eq_coe,
+      ring_hom.to_fun_eq_coe, continuous_map.coe_mk, is_R_or_C.conj_ae_coe,
+      alg_hom.coe_to_ring_hom, monoid_hom.to_fun_eq_coe, ring_hom.comp_left_continuous_apply,
+      monoid_hom.comp_left_continuous_apply, continuous_map.comp_apply,
+      alg_hom.to_ring_hom_eq_coe, alg_hom.comp_left_continuous_apply] },
+end
+
+end complex_cstar_algebra
diff --git a/src/ring_theory/ideal/basic.lean b/src/ring_theory/ideal/basic.lean
index 15a1f9efd1d43..31cc795eb9cf9 100644
--- a/src/ring_theory/ideal/basic.lean
+++ b/src/ring_theory/ideal/basic.lean
@@ -127,6 +127,11 @@ lemma span_eq_bot {s : set α} : span s = ⊥ ↔ ∀ x ∈ s, (x:α) = 0 := sub
 @[simp] lemma span_singleton_eq_bot {x} : span ({x} : set α) = ⊥ ↔ x = 0 :=
 submodule.span_singleton_eq_bot
 
+lemma span_singleton_ne_top {α : Type*} [comm_semiring α] {x : α} (hx : ¬ is_unit x) :
+  ideal.span ({x} : set α) ≠ ⊤ :=
+(ideal.ne_top_iff_one _).mpr $ λ h1, let ⟨y, hy⟩ := ideal.mem_span_singleton'.mp h1 in
+  hx ⟨⟨x, y, mul_comm y x ▸ hy, hy⟩, rfl⟩
+
 @[simp] lemma span_zero : span (0 : set α) = ⊥ := by rw [←set.singleton_zero, span_singleton_eq_bot]
 
 @[simp] lemma span_one : span (1 : set α) = ⊤ := by rw [←set.singleton_one, span_singleton_one]
diff --git a/src/topology/continuous_function/bounded.lean b/src/topology/continuous_function/bounded.lean
index f5328761a9e29..4462c792638b4 100644
--- a/src/topology/continuous_function/bounded.lean
+++ b/src/topology/continuous_function/bounded.lean
@@ -799,6 +799,10 @@ lemma bdd_above_range_norm_comp : bdd_above $ set.range $ norm ∘ f :=
 lemma norm_eq_supr_norm : ∥f∥ = ⨆ x : α, ∥f x∥ :=
 by simp_rw [norm_def, dist_eq_supr, coe_zero, pi.zero_apply, dist_zero_right]
 
+/-- If `∥(1 : β)∥ = 1`, then `∥(1 : α →ᵇ β)∥ = 1` if `α` is nonempty. -/
+instance [nonempty α] [has_one β] [norm_one_class β] : norm_one_class (α →ᵇ β) :=
+{ norm_one := by simp only [norm_eq_supr_norm, coe_one, pi.one_apply, norm_one, csupr_const] }
+
 /-- The pointwise opposite of a bounded continuous function is again bounded continuous. -/
 instance : has_neg (α →ᵇ β) :=
 ⟨λf, of_normed_add_comm_group (-f) f.continuous.neg ∥f∥ $ λ x,
diff --git a/src/topology/continuous_function/compact.lean b/src/topology/continuous_function/compact.lean
index b415647de2ea7..0ec59004b2c0f 100644
--- a/src/topology/continuous_function/compact.lean
+++ b/src/topology/continuous_function/compact.lean
@@ -159,6 +159,9 @@ instance : normed_add_comm_group C(α, E) :=
     rw [← norm_mk_of_compact, ← dist_mk_of_compact, dist_eq_norm, mk_of_compact_sub],
   dist := dist, norm := norm, .. continuous_map.metric_space _ _, .. continuous_map.add_comm_group }
 
+instance [nonempty α] [has_one E] [norm_one_class E] : norm_one_class C(α, E) :=
+{ norm_one := by simp only [←norm_mk_of_compact, mk_of_compact_one, norm_one] }
+
 section
 variables (f : C(α, E))
 -- The corresponding lemmas for `bounded_continuous_function` are stated with `{f}`,