nLab
over-(infinity,1)-category

Idea

For $C$ an (∞,1)-category and $X\in C$ an object, the over-$(\mathrm{\infty },1)$-category or slice $(\mathrm{\infty },1)$-category $C_{/X}$ is the $(\mathrm{\infty },1)$-category whose objects are morphism $p:Y\to X$ in $C$, whose morphisms $\eta :p_1\to p_2$ are 2-morphisms in $C$ of the form

$$\begin{array}{ccccc}{Y}_1& & \stackrel{f}{\to }& & Y_2\\ & {}_{p_1}\searrow & {⇙}_{\simeq }^{\eta }& {\swarrow }_{p_2}\\ & & X\end{array},$$\array{ Y_1 &&\stackrel{f}{\to}&& Y_2 \\ & {}_{\mathllap{p_1}}\searrow &\swArrow_{\simeq}^{\eta}& \swarrow_{\mathrlap{p_2}} \\ && X } \,,

hence 1-morphisms $f$ as inficated together with a homotopy $\eta :p_2\circ f\stackrel{\simeq }{\to }{p}_1$; and generally whose n-morphisms are diagrams

$$\Delta [n+1]=\Delta [n]\star \Delta [0]\to C$$\Delta[n+1] = \Delta[n] \star \Delta[0]\to C

in $C$ of the shape of the cocone under the $n$-simplex that take the tip of the cocone to the object $X$.

This is the generalization of the notion of over-category in ordinary category theory.

Definition

We give the definition in terms of the model of (∞,1)-categories in terms of quasi-categories.

Recall from join of quasi-categories that there are two different but quasi-catgorically equivalent definitions of join, denoted $\star$ and $♢$. Accordingly we have the following two different but quasi-categoricaly equivalent definitions of over/under quasi-categories.

Defnition/Proposition

Let $C$ be a quasi-category. let $K$ be any simplicial set and let

$$F:K\to C$$F : K \to C

be an (∞,1)-functor – a morphism of simplicial sets.

1. The under-quasi-category $C_{F/}$ is the simplicial set characterized by the property that for any other simplicial set $S$ there is a natural bijection of hom-sets

   $${\mathrm{Hom}}_{\mathrm{sSet}}(S,C_{F/})\cong ({\mathrm{Hom}}_{(K\downarrow \mathrm{SSet})})(i_{K,S},F),$$Hom_{sSet}(S, C_{F/}) \cong (Hom_{(K\downarrow SSet)})(i_{K,S} , F) \,,

   where $i_{K,S}:K\to K\star S$ is the canonical inclusion of $K$ into its join of simplicial sets with $S$.

   Similarly, the over quasi-category over $F$ is the simplicial set characterized by the property that

   $${\mathrm{Hom}}_{\mathrm{sSet}}(S,C_{/F})\simeq {\mathrm{Hom}}_{(K\downarrow \mathrm{SSet})}(j_{K,S},F)$$Hom_{sSet}(S, C_{/F}) \simeq Hom_{(K\downarrow SSet)}( j_{K,S} , F )

   naturally in $S$, where $j_{K,S}$ is the canonical inclusion map $K\to S\star K$.

2. The functor

   $$\mathrm{sSet}\to {\mathrm{sSet}}_{K/}$$sSet \to sSet_{K/}
   $$S\mapsto K♢S$$S \mapsto K \diamondsuit S

   with $♢$ denoting the other definition of join of quasi-categories (as described there)

   has a right adjoint

   $${\mathrm{sSet}}_{K/}\to \mathrm{sSet}$$sSet_{K/} \to sSet
   $$(F:K\to C)\mapsto C^{F/}$$(F : K \to C) \mapsto C^{F/}

   and its image $C^{F/}$ is another definition of the quasi-category under $F$.

The first definition in terms of the the mapping property is due to Andre Joyal. Together with the discussion of the concrete realization it appears as HTT, prop 1.2.9.2. The second definition appears in HTT above prop. 4.2.1.5.

Proposition

The simplicial sets $C_{/F}$ and $C_{F/}$ are indeed themselves again quasi-categories.

This appears as HTT, prop. 1.2.9.3

Proposition

The two definitions yield equivalent results in that the canonical morphism

$$C_{/F}\to C^{/F}.$$C_{/F} \to C^{/F} \,.

is an equivalence of quasi-categories.

This is HTT, prop. 4.2.1.5

From the formula

$$(C_{/F}{)}_n=({\mathrm{Hom}}_{\mathrm{sSet}}{)}_F({\Delta }^n\star K,C)$$(C_{/F})_n = (Hom_{sSet})_F(\Delta^n \star K , C)

we see that

• an object in the over quasi-category $C_{/F}$ is a cone over $F$;.

  For instance if $K=\Delta [1]$ then an object in $C_{/F}$ is a 2-cell

  $$\begin{array}{ccc}& & v\\ & \swarrow & ⇙& \searrow \\ F(0)& & \to & & F(1)\end{array}$$\array{ && v \\ & \swarrow &\swArrow& \searrow \\ F(0) &&\to&& F(1) }

  in $C$.

• a morphism in $C_{/F}$ is a morphism of cones,

• etc:.

So we may think of the overcategory $C_{/F}$ as the quasi-category of cones over $F$. Accordingly we have that

• the terminal object in $C_{/F}$ is (if it exists) the limit in $C$ over $F$;

• the initial object in $C_{F/}$ is (if it exists) the colimit of $F$ in $C$.

Properties

Relation to over-1-categories

Proposition

For $C=N(𝒞)$ (the nerve of) an ordinary category $𝒞$ and $K=*$, this construction coincides with the ordinary notion of overcategory $𝒞/F$ in that there is a canonical isomorphism of simplicial sets

$$N(𝒞/F)\simeq N(𝒞)/F.$$N(\mathcal{C}/F) \simeq N(\mathcal{C})/F \,.

This appears as HTT, remark 1.2.9.6.

Functoriality of the slicing

Proposition

If $q:C\to D$ is a categorical equivalence then so is the induced morphism $C_{/F}\to C_{/qF}$.

This appears as HTT, prop 1.2.9.3.

Proposition

For $C$ a quasi-category and $p:X\to C$ any morphism of simplicial sets, the canonical morphisms

$$C_{p/}\to C$$C_{p/} \to C

and

$$C^{p/}\to C$$C^{p/} \to C

are both left Kan fibrations.

This is a special case of HTT, prop 2.1.2.1 and prop. 4.2.1.6.

Proposition

For $v:K\to \tilde{K}$ an map of small (∞,1)-categories and $𝒞$ any $(\mathrm{\infty },1)$-category, the induced (∞,1)-functor between slice $(\mathrm{\infty },1)$-categories

$${𝒞}_{/K}\to {𝒞}_{/\tilde{K}}$$\mathcal{C}_{/K} \to \mathcal{C}_{/\tilde K}

is an equivalence of (∞,1)-categories precisely if $v$ if an op-final (∞,1)-functor (hence if $v^{\mathrm{op}}$ is final).

This is (Lurie, prop. 4.1.1.8).

Hom-spaces in a slice

Proposition

For $C$ an (∞,1)-category and $X\in C$ an object in $C$ and $f:A\to X$ and $g:B\to X$ two objects in $C/X$, the hom-∞-groupoid $C/X(f,g)$ is equivalent to the homotopy fiber of $C(A,B)\stackrel{g_{*}}{\to }C(A,X)$ over the morphism $f$: we have an (∞,1)-pullback diagram

$$\begin{array}{ccc}C/X(f,g)& \to & C(A,B)\\ \downarrow & & {\downarrow }^{g_{*}}\\ *& \stackrel{f}{\to }& C(A,X)\end{array}.$$\array{ C/X(f,g) &\to& C(A,B) \\ \downarrow && \downarrow^{\mathrlap{g_*}} \\ {*} & \stackrel{f}{\to} & C(A,X) } \,.

This is HTT, prop. 5.5.5.12.

Colimits in a slice

The forgetful functor ${𝒞}_{/X}\to 𝒞$ out of a slice (dependent sum) reflects (∞,1)-colimits:

Proposition

Let $f:K\to {𝒞}_{/X}$ be a diagram in the slice of an (∞,1)-category $𝒞$ over an object $X\in 𝒞$. Then if the composite $K\stackrel{f}{\to }{𝒞}_{/X}\to 𝒞$ has an (∞,1)-colimit, then so does $f$ itself and the projection ${𝒞}_{/q}\to 𝒞$ takes the latter to the former. Conversely, a cocone $K\star {\Delta }^0\to {𝒞}_{/X}$ under $f$ is an (∞,1)-colimit of $f$ precisely if the composite $K\star {\Delta }^0\to {𝒞}_{/X}\to 𝒞$ is an $(\mathrm{\infty },1)$-colimit of the projection of $f$.

This appears as (Lurie, prop. 1.2.13.8).

Related concepts

• arrow category

• over-category

  • slice category

  • under category

  • over topos

• over-(∞,1)-category

  • model structure on an over category

  • over-(∞,1)-topos, etale geometric morphism

• arrow (∞,1)-category, arrow (∞,1)-topos

References

Section 1.2.9 of

• Jacob Lurie, Higher Topos Theory