Homotopy Type Theory pushout > history (Rev #3)

Idea

Many constructions in homotopy theory are special cases of pushouts. Although when being defined sometimes it may be clearer to define the construction as a seperate higher inductive type and then later on prove it is equivalent? to the pushout definition.

Definition

The (homotopy) pushout of a span $A \xleftarrow{f} C \xrightarrow{g} B$ is the higher inductive type $A \sqcup^{C}_{f ; g} B$ (or $A \sqcup^C B$) generated by:

• a function $inl : A \to A \sqcup^{C} B$
• a function $inr : B \to A \sqcup^{C} B$
• for each $c:C$ a path $glue(c) : inl (f (c)) = inr (g( c))$

Examples

• suspension
• wedge sum
• smash product

See also

Synthetic homotopy theory

References

HoTT Book