# Kerodon

$\Newextarrow{\xRightarrow}{5,5}{0x21D2}$

### 2.4.6 The Homotopy Category of a Simplicial Category

For every simplicial set $S_{\bullet }$, we let $\pi _{0}( S_{\bullet } )$ denote the set of connected components of $S_{\bullet }$ (Definition 1.1.6.8). Recall that the functor $\pi _0: \operatorname{Set_{\Delta }}\rightarrow \operatorname{Set}$ preserves finite products (Corollary 1.1.6.26). Applying Remark 2.1.7.4, we obtain the following:

Construction 2.4.6.1 (The Homotopy Category of a Simplicial Category). Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet }$ be a simplicial category. We define an ordinary category $\mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}$ as follows:

• The objects of $\mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}$ are the objects of $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$.

• For every pair of objects $X,Y \in \operatorname{Ob}( \mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} ) = \operatorname{Ob}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$, we have

$\operatorname{Hom}_{\mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}}(X,Y) = \pi _0( \operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}(X,Y)_{\bullet } ).$
• For every triple of objects $X,Y,Z \in \operatorname{Ob}( \mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} ) = \operatorname{Ob}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$, the composition map

$\circ : \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}}( Y,Z) \times \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}}( X,Y) \rightarrow \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}}( X, Z )$

is given by the composition

\begin{eqnarray*} \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}}( Y,Z) \times \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}}( X,Y) & = & \pi _0( \operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}(Y,Z)_{\bullet } ) \times \pi _0( \operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}( X,Y)_{\bullet } ) \\ & \xleftarrow {\sim } & \pi _0( \operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}(Y,Z)_{\bullet } \times \operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}(X,Y)_{\bullet } ) \\ & \rightarrow & \pi _0( \operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}(X,Z)_{\bullet } ) \\ & = & \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}}(X,Z). \end{eqnarray*}

We will refer to $\mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}$ as the homotopy category of $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$.

Remark 2.4.6.2 (The Component Functor). Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet }$ be a simplicial category and let $\mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}$ be its homotopy category (Construction 2.4.6.1). For every pair of objects $X,Y \in \operatorname{Ob}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } ) = \operatorname{Ob}( \mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} )$, Construction 1.1.6.18 supplies a map of simplicial sets

$u_{X,Y}: \operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}(X,Y)_{\bullet } \rightarrow \underline{ \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}}(X,Y) }_{\bullet }.$

Here $\underline{ \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}}(X,Y) }_{\bullet }$ denotes the constant simplicial set associated to the set $\operatorname{Hom}_{\mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}}(X,Y)$, and $u_{X,Y}$ carries each $n$-simplex of $\operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}(X,Y)_{\bullet }$ to the connected component which contains it. Allowing $X$ and $Y$ to vary, we obtain a simplicial functor $u: \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } \rightarrow \underline{ \mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} }_{\bullet }$ which is the identity on objects; we will refer to $u$ as the component functor.

Remark 2.4.6.3. Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet }$ be a simplicial category with underlying category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}= \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_0$. Then the simplicial functor $u: \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } \rightarrow \underline{ \mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} }_{\bullet }$ induces a functor of ordinary categories $u_0: \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}\rightarrow \mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}$, which can be described as follows:

• On objects, the functor $u_0$ is the identity map from $\operatorname{Ob}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}) = \operatorname{Ob}( \mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} )$ to itself.

• For every pair of objects $X,Y \in \operatorname{Ob}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}) = \operatorname{Ob}( \mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} )$, the induced map $\operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}(X,Y) \rightarrow \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}}(X,Y)$ is a surjection, which we will denote by $f \mapsto [f]$.

• Given a pair of morphisms $f,g; X \rightarrow Y$ in $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ having the same source and target, we have $[f] = [g]$ if and only if $f$ and $g$ belong to the same connected component of the simplicial set $\operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}(X,Y)_{\bullet }$.

Remark 2.4.6.4. Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet }$ be a simplicial category with underlying category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}= \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_0$, and let $f,g: X \rightarrow Y$ be a pair of morphisms of $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ having the same source and target. Using Remark 1.1.6.23, we see that the following conditions are equivalent:

$(a)$

The morphisms $f$ and $g$ represent the same morphism in the homotopy category $\mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}$: that is, we have $[f] = [g]$.

$(b)$

There exists a sequence of morphisms $f = f_0, f_1, f_2, \ldots , f_ n = g \in \operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}(X,Y)$ such that, for $1 \leq i \leq n$, either there exists a homotopy from $f_{i-1}$ to $f_{i}$ or a homotopy from $f_{i}$ to $f_{i-1}$ (in the sense of Definition 2.4.1.6).

If $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet }$ is locally Kan, then we can replace $(b)$ by the following simpler condition:

$(c)$

There exists a homotopy from $f$ to $g$ (in the sense of Definition 2.4.1.6).

See Remark 2.4.1.9.

Example 2.4.6.5 (The Homotopy Category of $\operatorname{Top}$). Let $\operatorname{Top}$ denote the category of topological spaces and continuous functions, endowed with the simplicial enrichment $\operatorname{Top}_{\bullet }$ described in Example 2.4.1.5. Then the homotopy category $\mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{Top}}$ is the homotopy category of all topological spaces: the objects of $\mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{Top}}$ are topological spaces, and the morphisms of $\mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{Top}}$ are homotopy classes of continuous maps.

The homotopy category of a simplicial category can be characterized by a universal mapping property:

Proposition 2.4.6.6. Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet }$ be a simplicial category and let $u: \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } \rightarrow \underline{ \mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} }_{\bullet }$ be the simplicial functor described in Remark 2.4.6.2. Then, for any category $\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}$, composition with $u$ induces a bijection

$\{ \textnormal{Ordinary Functors f: \mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{D}}} \} \rightarrow \{ \textnormal{Simplicial Functors F: \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } \rightarrow \underline{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}}_{\bullet }} \} .$

Proof. Use Proposition 1.1.6.19. $\square$

Corollary 2.4.6.7. The fully faithful embedding

$\operatorname{Cat}\hookrightarrow \operatorname{Cat_{\Delta }}\quad \quad \operatorname{\mathcal{D}}\mapsto \underline{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}}_{\bullet }$

of Example 2.4.2.2 admits a left adjoint, given on objects by the formation of homotopy categories $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } \mapsto \mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}$.

We have now introduced two different notions of homotopy category:

• The homotopy category $\mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}$ of a simplicial category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet }$, given by Construction 2.4.6.1.

• The homotopy category $\mathrm{h} \mathit{S}_{\bullet }$ of a simplicial set $S_{\bullet }$, defined in Definition 1.2.5.1 (and described more explicitly in §1.3.5 when $S_{\bullet }$ is an $\infty$-category).

These constructions are related. Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet }$ be a simplicial category. Applying the homotopy coherent nerve to the component functor $u$ of Remark 2.4.6.2, we obtain a map of simplicial sets

$\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } ) \xrightarrow { \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}(u)} \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}( \underline{ \mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} }_{\bullet } ) \simeq \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }( \mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} ),$

which we can identify with a functor of ordinary categories $U: \mathrm{h} \mathit{ \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } ) } \rightarrow \mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}$.

Proposition 2.4.6.8. Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet }$ be a locally Kan simplicial category. Then the construction above induces an isomorphism of categories $U: \mathrm{h} \mathit{ \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } ) } \xrightarrow {\sim } \mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}$.

To prove Proposition 2.4.6.8, we need to analyze the $2$-simplices of the homotopy coherent nerve $\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } )$. Recall that the vertices and edges of $\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } )$ can be identified with objects and morphisms in the underlying category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}= \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_0$ (Example 2.4.3.9). In particular, a map of simplicial sets $\sigma _0: \operatorname{\partial }\Delta ^2 \rightarrow \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } )$ can be identified with a (possibly noncommutative) diagram

$\xymatrix { & X_1 \ar [dr]^{ f_{21} } & \\ X_0 \ar [ur]^{ f_{10} } \ar [rr]^{ f_{20} }& & X_2 }$

in the category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$. We will need the following:

Proposition 2.4.6.9. Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet }$ be a simplicial category and let $\sigma _0: \operatorname{\partial }\Delta ^2 \rightarrow \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } )$ be a map of simplicial sets, which we identify with a diagram

$\xymatrix { & X_1 \ar [dr]^{ f_{21} } & \\ X_0 \ar [ur]^{ f_{10} } \ar [rr]^{ f_{20} } & & X_2 }$

as above. Then the construction of Example 2.4.3.10 induces a bijection

$\xymatrix { \{ \textnormal{Maps \sigma : \Delta ^2 \rightarrow \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet }) with \sigma |_{ \operatorname{\partial }\Delta ^2} = \sigma _0} \} \ar [d]^{\sim } \\ \{ \textnormal{Homotopies from f_{20} to f_{21} \circ f_{10}} \} . }$

It is not difficult to deduce Proposition 2.4.6.9 directly from the definition of the homotopy coherent nerve. We will instead deduce it from a more general result (Corollary 2.4.6.12), which supplies an analogous description of the $n$-simplices of $\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } )$ for all $n > 0$. First, let us note some consequences of Proposition 2.4.6.9.

Example 2.4.6.10. Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet }$ be a locally Kan simplicial category, so that the homotopy coherent nerve $\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } )$ is an $\infty$-category (Theorem 2.4.5.1). Suppose we are given a pair of morphisms $f,g: X \rightarrow Y$ in the underlying category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}= \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_0$ having the same source and target. Let $\sigma _0: \operatorname{\partial }\Delta ^2 \rightarrow \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } )$ be the map corresponding to the (possibly noncommutative) diagram

$\xymatrix { & Y \ar [dr]^{ \operatorname{id}_ Y } & \\ X \ar [ur]^{g} \ar [rr]^{f} & & Y. }$

Applying Proposition 2.4.6.9 we obtain a bijection from the set of homotopies from $g$ to $f$ in the $\infty$-category $\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } )$ (in the sense of Definition 1.3.3.1) to the set of homotopies from $f$ to $g$ in the simplicial category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet }$ (in the sense of Definition 2.4.1.6). In particular, we see that $f$ and $g$ are homotopic in $\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } )$ if and only if they are homotopic in $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet }$.

Proof of Proposition 2.4.6.8. Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet }$ be a locally Kan simplicial category; we wish to show that the comparison map $U: \mathrm{h} \mathit{ \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } ) } \xrightarrow {\sim } \mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}$ is an isomorphism of categories. By construction, $U$ is bijective on objects. It will therefore suffice to show that for every pair of objects $X,Y \in \operatorname{Ob}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$, the induced map

$U_{X,Y}: \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet })}}( X, Y) \rightarrow \operatorname{Hom}_{ \mathrm{h} \mathit{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} }(X, Y)$

is a bijection. This is precisely the content of Example 2.4.6.10. $\square$

We will deduce Proposition 2.4.6.9 from the following variant of Proposition 2.4.5.8:

Proposition 2.4.6.11. Let $n$ be a positive integer and let $F: \operatorname{Path}[ \partial \Delta ^ n ]_{\bullet } \rightarrow \operatorname{Path}[ \Delta ^ n ]_{\bullet }$ be the simplicial functor induced by the boundary inclusion $\partial \Delta ^ n \hookrightarrow \Delta ^ n$. Then:

$(a)$

The functor $F$ is bijective on objects; in particular, we can identify objects of $\operatorname{Path}[ \operatorname{\partial }\Delta ^ n ]_{\bullet }$ with elements of the set $[n] = \{ 0 < 1 < \cdots < n \}$.

$(b)$

For $(j,k) \neq (0,n)$, the functor $F$ induces an isomorphism of simplicial sets

$\operatorname{Hom}_{ \operatorname{Path}[ \partial \Delta ^ n ] }(j, k)_{\bullet } \simeq \operatorname{Hom}_{ \operatorname{Path}[ \Delta ^ n ] }(j, k)_{\bullet }.$
$(c)$

The functor $F$ induces a monomorphism of simplicial sets $\operatorname{Hom}_{ \operatorname{Path}[ \partial \Delta ^ n ] }(0,n)_{\bullet } \hookrightarrow \operatorname{Hom}_{ \operatorname{Path}[ \Delta ^ n ] }(0,n)_{\bullet }$, whose image can be identified with the boundary $\operatorname{\partial \raise {0.1ex}{\square }}^{n-1} \subseteq \operatorname{\raise {0.1ex}{\square }}^{n-1} \simeq \operatorname{Hom}_{ \operatorname{Path}[\Delta ^ n]}(0,n)_{\bullet }$ introduced in Notation 2.4.5.5.

Proof. Assertion $(a)$ is immediate from Theorem 2.4.4.10. To prove $(b)$ and $(c)$, fix an integer $m \geq 0$ and let us identify $\operatorname{Path}[ \Delta ^ n ]_{m}$ with the path category $\operatorname{Path}[G]$ of the directed graph $G$ appearing in the proof of Proposition 2.4.5.8. Using Theorem 2.4.4.10, we see that $\operatorname{Path}[ \partial \Delta ^ n ]_{m}$ can be identified with the path category of the directed subgraph $G' \subseteq G$ having the same vertices, where an edge $\overrightarrow {I} = (I_0 \subseteq \cdots \subseteq I_ m)$ of $G$ belongs to $G'$ if and only if $I_{m} \neq [n]$. In particular, we see that for $(j,k) \neq (0,n)$, every edge of $G$ with source $j$ and target $k$ is contained in $G'$. It follows that the simplicial functor $F$ induces a bijection

$\operatorname{Hom}_{ \operatorname{Path}[ \partial \Delta ^ n ] }( j, k )_{m} \rightarrow \operatorname{Hom}_{ \operatorname{Path}[ \Delta ^ n] }(j, k)_{m}$

for $(j, k) \neq (0,n)$, which proves $(b)$. Moreover, the map

$\operatorname{Hom}_{ \operatorname{Path}[ \partial \Delta ^ n ] }( 0, n )_{m} \rightarrow \operatorname{Hom}_{ \operatorname{Path}[ \Delta ^ n] }(0,n)_{m}$

is a monomorphism, whose image consists of those chains

$\overrightarrow {I} = (I_0 \subseteq I_1 \subseteq \cdots \subseteq I_{m})$

where either $I_0 \neq \{ 0,n\}$ or $I_{m} \neq [n]$. Under the identification of $\operatorname{Hom}_{ \operatorname{Path}[ \Delta ^ n] }(0,n)_{\bullet }$ with the cube $\operatorname{\raise {0.1ex}{\square }}^{n-1} \simeq \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }( P( \{ 1, \ldots , n-1\} ))$, this is exactly the set of $m$-simplices which belong to the boundary $\operatorname{\partial \raise {0.1ex}{\square }}^{n-1} \subseteq \operatorname{\raise {0.1ex}{\square }}^{n-1}$. $\square$

Combining Propositions 2.4.6.11 and 2.4.5.9, we obtain the following:

Corollary 2.4.6.12. Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet }$ be a simplicial category, let $n > 0$, and let $\sigma _0: \partial \Delta ^ n \rightarrow \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } )$ be a map of simplicial sets, which we dentify with a simplicial functor $F: \operatorname{Path}[ \partial \Delta ^ n ]_{\bullet } \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet }$ inducing a map of simplicial sets

$\lambda _0: \operatorname{\partial \raise {0.1ex}{\square }}^{n-1} \simeq \operatorname{Hom}_{ \operatorname{Path}[ \partial \Delta ^ n ] }( 0, n)_{\bullet } \rightarrow \operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}( F(0), F(n) )_{\bullet }.$

Then we have a canonical bijection

$\xymatrix { \{ \textnormal{Maps \sigma : \Delta ^ n \rightarrow \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet }) with \sigma _0 = \sigma |_{ \partial \Delta ^ n }} \} \ar [d] \\ \{ \textnormal{Maps \lambda : \operatorname{\raise {0.1ex}{\square }}^{n-1} \rightarrow \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet }) with \lambda _0 = \lambda |_{ \operatorname{\partial \raise {0.1ex}{\square }}^{n-1}} } \} }.$

Example 2.4.6.13 ($1$-Simplices of the Homotopy Coherent Nerve). Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet }$ be a simplicial category. By definition, giving a map of simplicial sets $\sigma _0: \operatorname{\partial }\Delta ^1 \rightarrow \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } )$ is equivalent to giving a pair of objects $X_0 = \sigma _0(0)$ and $X_1=\sigma _0(1)$ of the underlying category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}= \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_0$. Applying Corollary 2.4.6.12, we deduce that extending $\sigma _0$ to a $1$-simplex of $\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } )$ is equivalent to supplying a morphism $f: X_0 \rightarrow X_1$ in the category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ (see Example 2.4.3.9).

Proof of Proposition 2.4.6.9. Apply Corollary 2.4.6.12 in the case $n = 2$. $\square$

Example 2.4.6.14 ($3$-Simplices of the Homotopy Coherent Nerve). Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet }$ be a simplicial category. Using Proposition 2.4.6.9, we see that a map of simplicial sets $\sigma _0: \operatorname{\partial }\Delta ^3 \rightarrow \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } )$ can be identified with the following data:

• A collection of four objects $\{ X_ i \in \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}\} _{0 \leq i \leq 3}$.

• A collection of six morphisms $\{ f_{ji} \in \operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}(X_ i, X_ j) \} _{0 \leq i < j \leq 3}$.

• A collection of four $1$-simplices $\{ h_{kji} \in \operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}(X_ i, X_ k)_{1} \} _{ 0 \leq i < j < k \leq 3}$, where each $h_{kji}$ is a homotopy from $f_{ki}$ to $f_{kj} \circ f_{ji}$.

From this data, we can assemble a map of simplicial sets $\lambda _0: \operatorname{\partial \raise {0.1ex}{\square }}^{2} \rightarrow \operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}( X_0, X_3)_{\bullet }$, which is represented by the diagram

$\xymatrix@C =50pt@R=50pt{ f_{30} \ar [r]^-{ h_{310} } \ar [d]^-{ h_{320} } & f_{31} \circ f_{10} \ar [d]^-{ h_{321} \circ f_{10} } \\ f_{32} \circ f_{20} \ar [r]^-{ f_{32} \circ h_{210} } & f_{32} \circ f_{21} \circ f_{10}; }$

here we slightly abuse notation by identifying the morphisms $f_{10}$ and $f_{32}$ with the corresponding degenerate edges of the simplicial sets $\operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}(X_0, X_1)_{\bullet }$ and $\operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}( X_2, X_3)_{\bullet }$, respectively. Corollary 2.4.6.12 then asserts that extending $\sigma _0$ to a $3$-simplex of the homotopy coherent nerve $\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } )$ is equivalent to extending $\lambda _0$ to a map of simplicial sets $\lambda : \operatorname{\raise {0.1ex}{\square }}^2 \rightarrow \operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}( X_0, X_3)_{\bullet }$.

Stated more informally, the map $\sigma _0$ supplies two potentially different paths from $f_{30}$ to the composition $f_{32} \circ f_{21} \circ f_{10}$ in the simplicial set $\operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}(X_0, X_3)_{\bullet }$. To extend $\sigma _0$ to a $3$-simplex of $\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }^{\operatorname{hc}}( \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\bullet } )$, one must supply additional data which “witnesses” that these paths are homotopic.