In mental spaces theory, the cognitive link that holds between elements in distinct mental spaces that are counterparts. Connectors represent a special kind of conceptual projection.

For instance, elements in different mental spaces that are coreferential, which is to say are related by identity, are linked by an 'identity' connector. To illustrate, consider the following example: James Bond is a top British spy. In the war, 007 was an officer in the Royal Navy. In this example, each sentence sets up its own mental space. In the first sentence the expression James Bond prompts for the assignment of an element relating to James Bond. In the second sentence the expression 007 prompts for the assignment of the element 007 in the second mental space. Background knowledge tells us that 007 is the code name conventionally assigned to James Bond. This knowledge serves to establish an identity connector linking the elements in the two distinct mental spaces.