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# Coslice (under) categories

## Definition

Given a category $C$ and an object $c \in C$, the under category (also called coslice category) $c \downarrow C$ (also written $c/C$ and sometimes, confusingly, $c\backslash C$) is the category whose

• objects are morphisms in $C$ starting at $c$; $c \to d$

• morphisms are commuting triangles $\array{ && c \\ & \swarrow && \searrow \\ d_1 &&\to && d_2 } \,.$

The under category $c\downarrow C$ is a kind of comma category; it is the strict pullback

$\array{ c\downarrow C &\to& pt \\ \downarrow && \;\;\downarrow^{pt \mapsto c} \\ [I,C] &\stackrel{d_0}{\to}& C }$

in Cat, where

• $I$ is the interval category $\{0 \to 1\}$;

• $[I,C]$ is the internal hom in Cat, which here is the arrow category $Arr(C)$;

• the functor $d_0$ is evaluation at the left end of the interval;

• $pt$, the point, is the terminal category, the 0th oriental, the 0-globe;

• the right vertical morphism maps the single object of the point to the object $c$.

The left vertical morphism $c \downarrow C \to C$ is the forgetful morphism which forgets the tip of the triangles mentioned above.

The dual notion is an over category.

## Examples

• $Set_*$, the category of pointed sets, is the undercategory $pt\downarrow Set$, where $pt \simeq \{\bullet\}$ is the singleton set.

• The category of commutative algebras over a field $F$ is the category $F \downarrow$CRing of commutative rings under $F$.

Last revised on January 8, 2016 at 08:30:36. See the history of this page for a list of all contributions to it.