We consider the attractor $\Lambda $ of a piecewise contracting map f defined on a compact interval. If f is injective, we show that it is possible to estimate the topological entropy of f (according to Bowen’s formula) and the Hausdorff dimension of $\Lambda $ via the complexity associated with the orbits of the system. Specifically, we prove that both numbers are zero.

We construct an invariant measure for a piecewise analytic interval map whose Lyapunov exponent is not defined. Moreover, for a set of full measure, the pointwise Lyapunov exponent is not defined. This map has a Lorenz-like singularity and non-flat critical points.

For random piecewise linear systems T of the interval that are expanding on average we construct explicitly the density functions of absolutely continuous T-invariant measures. If the random system uses only expanding maps our procedure produces all invariant densities of the system. Examples include random tent maps, random W-shaped maps, random $\beta $ -transformations and random Lüroth maps with a hole.

We study the asymptotic dynamics of piecewise-contracting maps defined on a compact interval. For maps that are not necessarily injective, but have a finite number of local extrema and discontinuity points, we prove the existence of a decomposition of the support of the asymptotic dynamics into a finite number of minimal components. Each component is either a periodic orbit or a minimal Cantor set and such that the $\unicode[STIX]{x1D714}$-limit set of (almost) every point in the interval is exactly one of these components. Moreover, we show that each component is the $\unicode[STIX]{x1D714}$-limit set, or the closure of the orbit, of a one-sided limit of the map at a discontinuity point or at a local extremum.