Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 April 2009
In this note we consider commutative rings with identity over which every unitary module is a zero-divisor module. We call such rings Universally Zero-divisor (UZD) rings. We show (1) a Noetherian ring R is a UZD if and only if R is semilocal and the Krull dimension of R is at most one, (2) a Prüfer domain R is a UZD if and only if R has only a finite number of maximal ideals, and (3) if a ring R has Noetherian spectrum and descending chain condition on prime ideals then R is a UZD if and only if Spec (R) is a finite set. The question of ascent and descent of the property of a ring being a UZD with respect to integral extension of rings has also been answered.