# nLab comma category

category theory

## Applications

#### Limits and colimits

limits and colimits

# Contents

## Idea

The comma category of two functors $f : C \to E$ and $g : D \to E$ is a category like an arrow category of $E$ where all arrows have their source in the image of $f$ and their target in the image of $g$ (and the morphisms between arrows keep track of how these sources and targets are in these images). It can also be seen a kind of 2-limit: a directed refinement of the homotopy pullback of two functors between groupoids.

## Definition

We discuss three equivalent definitions of comma categories

###### Remark

The terminology “comma category” is a holdover from the original notation $(f,g)$ for such a category, which generalises $(x,y)$ or $C(x,y)$ for a hom-set. This is rarely used any more. More common modern notations for the comma category are $(f/g)$, which we will use on this page, and $(f\downarrow g)$.

### Via components: the objectwise definition

###### Definition

If $f:C\to E$ and $g:D\to E$ are functors, their comma category is the category $(f/g)$ whose

• objects are triples $(c,d,\alpha)$ where $c\in C$, $d\in D$, and $\alpha:f(c)\to g(d)$ is a morphism in $E$, and whose

• morphisms from $(c_1,d_1,\alpha_1)$ to $(c_2,d_2,\alpha_2)$ are pairs $(\beta,\gamma)$, where $\beta:c_1\to c_2$ and $\gamma:d_1\to d_2$ are morphisms in $C$ and $D$, respectively, such that $\alpha_2 . f(\beta) = g(\gamma) . \alpha_1$.

$\array{ f(c_1) &\stackrel{f(\beta)}{\to}& f(c_2) \\ \downarrow^{\alpha_1} && \downarrow^{\alpha_2} \\ g(d_1) &\stackrel{g(\gamma)}{\to}& g(d_2) \\ \\ (c_1,d_1, \alpha_1) &\stackrel{(\beta,\gamma)}{\to}& (c_2,d_2, \alpha_2) }$
• composition of morphisms is given on components by composition in $C$ and $D$.

The definition of $(f/g)$ is now complete. In addition, there are two canonical forgetful functors defined on the comma category:

• there is a functor $H_C\colon (f/g)\rightarrow C$ which sends each object $(c,d,\alpha)$ to $c$, and each pair $(\beta,\gamma)$ to $\beta$.

• there is a functor $H_D\colon (f/g)\rightarrow D$ which sends each object $(c,d,\alpha)$ to $d$, and each pair $(\beta,\gamma)$ to $\gamma$.

Furthermore:

• there is a natural transformation $\theta : f \circ H_C \to g\circ H_D$ defined by $\theta_{(c,d,\alpha)} = \alpha$.

These functors and natural transformation together give the comma category a 2-categorical universal property; see this section for more.

### Via fiber products in the 1-category Cat

Let $I = \{a \to b\}$ be the (directed) interval category and $E^I = Funct(I,E)$ the functor category.

The comma category is the pullback

$\array{ (f/g) &\to& E^I \\ \downarrow & (pb) & \downarrow^{\mathrlap{(F\mapsto F(a))\times(F\mapsto F(b))}} \\ C \times D &\stackrel{f \times g}{\to}& E \times E }$

in the standard sense of pullback of morphisms in the 1-category Cat of categories.

Compare this with the construction of homotopy pullback (here), hence with the definition of loop space object and also with generalized universal bundle.

### Via 2-category theory: as a 2-limit

The comma category is the comma object of the cospan $C\overset{f}{\rightarrow}E\overset{g}{\leftarrow}D$ in the 2-category $Cat$. This means it is an appropriate weighted 2-categorical limit (in fact, a strict 2-limit) of the diagram

$\array{ && C \\ && \downarrow^f \\ D &\stackrel{g}{\to}& E }$

Specifically, it is the universal span making the following square commute up to a specified natural transformation (such a universal square is in general called a comma square):

$\array{ (f/g) &\overset{H_C}{\to}& C \\ \mathllap{{}^{H_D}} \downarrow &\swArrow& \downarrow^{\mathrlap{f}} \\ D &\stackrel{g}{\to}& E }$

(Sometimes this is called a “lax pullback”, but that terminology properly refers to something else; see comma object and 2-limit.)

Notably, the forgetful functors $H_C$ and $H_D$ from the “objectwise” definition are thus recovered via a categorical construction: they are the projections from the summit of the “appropriate” 2-categorical limit.

In terms of the imagery of loop space objects, the comma category is the category of directed paths in $E$ which start in the image of $f$ and end in the image of $g$.

## Examples

• If $f$ and $g$ are both the identity functor of a category $C$, then $(f/g)$ is the category $C ^{\mathbf{2}}$ of arrows in $C$.

• If $f$ is the identity functor of $C$ and $g$ is the inclusion $1\to C$ of an object $c\in C$, then $(f/g)$ is the slice category $C/c$.

• Likewise if $g$ is the identity and $f$ is the inclusion of $c$, then $(f/g)$ is the coslice category $c/C$.

## References

Revised on July 6, 2017 12:44:42 by Mike Shulman (76.167.222.204)