maximum swing volatge in 741 op-amp

if you check out the internal design of an UA741 op-amp, it'll be clearer!

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now, Q2 transistor is in 'Active' region, thats how it'll be useful in this op-amp, so the input can't be allowed to become large enough to drive Q2 to 'cutoff' region. This is why there's a maximum +ve going and minimum -ve going input voltage that may be applied to an Op-amp, which is termed as "input voltage range"
Obviously, it'll be lesser than the supply voltage! here, as Vcc(supply voltage) is 15 v, the conventional input voltage range is set as +13.5v to -13.5v

Now, for an Op-amp as a 'voltage follower' as limit of output voltage = limit of input voltage = +13.5v to -13.5v
but if u use op-amp as an amplifier, then output range can't go higher than Vcc, on which its range depends,
And also the output voltage depends on the external ckt.
Together they contribute to loss of 1.5 v!

This is actually deliberately done, for safety purpose, and not considered as a loss!