# groupoids

## 0.1 Introduction

Several classes of groupoids and large groupoids shall be considered in this topic with pertinent examples that illustrate the construction of groupoids through several extensions of the much simpler (and global) group symmetry to both higher order symmetries and dimensions, as well as internal (or local, partial) plus external symmetry. Considered as powerful tools for investigating both Abelian and non-Abelian structures, groupoids are now essential for understanding topology, and are one of the important–if not the most importantconcepts in algebraic topology ([1])

## 0.2 Groupoids and topology

Groupoids are generalizations or extensions of the concept of group, supergroup, ‘virtual group’, and paragroup, in several ways; one may simply extend the notion of a group viewed as an one-object category to a many-object category with group-like elements and all invertible morphisms. Another enrichment of the notion of a group–as in the case of topological groups– is the concept of topological groupoid $\mathsf{G}$. One can also think of a groupoid as a class of linked groups, and further extend the latter groupoid definition to higher dimensions through ‘geometric’-algebraic constructions, for example, to double groupoids, cubic groupoids, …, groupoid categories, groupoid supercategories, and so on. Crossed modules of groups and crossed complexes also correspond to such extended groupoids.

For precise definitions of specific classes of groupoids, see also groupoid and topological groupoid definitions, as well as those entries listed next as examples.

## 0.3 Additional examples

of major classes of groupoids defining the several extensions and enrichment possibilities of the notions of group and group symmetry introduced in the above definition are the subject of several other entries:

1. 1.

2-groupoids (please see groupoid categories)

2. 2.

Double groupoids; homotopy double groupoid of a Hausdorff space

3. 3.

Higher homotopy groupoids and the higher dimensional, generalized van Kampen theorems

4. 4.

Groupoid category

5. 5.

Crossed complexes

6. 6.
7. 7.

Groupoid super-categories ($n$-categories, etc.)

8. 8.

Groupoid supercategories

## References

 Title groupoids Canonical name Groupoids Date of creation 2013-03-22 18:15:32 Last modified on 2013-03-22 18:15:32 Owner bci1 (20947) Last modified by bci1 (20947) Numerical id 43 Author bci1 (20947) Entry type Topic Classification msc 55U05 Classification msc 55U35 Classification msc 55U40 Classification msc 18G55 Classification msc 18B40 Synonym groupoid categories Synonym topological groupoids Synonym supergroups Related topic Groupoid Related topic GroupoidCategory Related topic GroupoidHomomorphisms Related topic HomotopyDoubleGroupoidOfAHausdorffSpace Related topic TopologicalGroupoid Related topic QuantumGroups Related topic GeneralizedVanKampenTheoremsHigherDimensional Related topic EquivalentRepresentationsOfGroupoids Related topic C_cG Related topic GroupoidAndGroupRepresentationsRelate