Homotopy coherent category theory

Abstract

This article is an introduction to the categorical theory of homotopy coherence. It is based on the construction of the homotopy coherent analogues of end and coend, extending ideas of Meyer and others. The paper aims to develop homotopy coherent analogues of many of the results of elementary category theory, in particular it handles a homotopy coherent form of the Yoneda lemma and of Kan extensions. This latter area is linked with the theory of generalised derived functors.