Definition 0.1. A (small) category 𝒞 consists of a set of objects C0 and a set of arrows C1
together with the following structure:
- a source map s : C1 → C0 assigning an object s(f) to each arrow f ∈ C1 ,
- a target map: t : C1 → C0 assigning an object t(f) to each arrow f ∈ C1 ,
- an identity map 1 : C0 → C1 assigning to each object A an arrow 1A with
- a composition map ∘ : C1 × C1 → C1 assigning to each pair of arrows f,g , such that
, a third arrow g ∘ f with s(g ∘ f) = s(f) and t(g ∘ f) = t(g).
- The composition thus defined “∘” is associative, that is,
whenever these compositions make sense.
- the identity map satisfies f ∘ 1A = f for any f such that s(f) = A and 1A ∘g = g, and
any g such that t(g) = A.
References
P. A. Zito. 2008. [arXiv: math.CT]. 2-C∗ -Categories with non-simple units. ,(Preprint).