Component-of

Let $\mathcal{C}$ be a category with finite products.

Definition. An object $A$ is a component of an object $B$ if there exists a named projection morphism $\pi : B \to A$ — that is, $A$ is a factor of $B$ in a product decomposition, accessible by a specified projection.

Proposition. Component-of is non-transitive: if $A$ is a component of $B$ via $\pi_1 : B \to A$ and $X$ is a component of $A$ via $\pi_2 : A \to X$, the composite $\pi_2 \circ \pi_1 : B \to X$ exists, but $X$ becomes a component of $B$ only when there exists a direct named projection $B \to X$; the composite $\pi_2 \circ \pi_1$ alone is insufficient.

In type theory, this corresponds to a record field: if $B$ is a record type and $A$ is the type of field $\ell$ in $B$, then $A$ is a component of $B$ accessed by projection $\pi_\ell : B \to A$.

Distinction from related notions:

• part-of — transitive mereological membership (loses the named-projection structure)
• component-of — non-transitive, requires a named projection morphism
• extends — $X$ embeds into the subject via a monomorphism; the subject has all of $X$ plus more

Open questions