Definition:Direct Limit of Sequence of Groups

Definition 1
Let $\left({G_n}\right)_{n \in \N}$ be a sequence of groups.

For each $n \in \N$, let $g_n: G_n \to G_{n+1}$ be a group homomorphism.

A direct limit for the sequences $\left({G_n}\right)_{n \in \N}$ and $\left({g_n}\right)_{n \in \N}$ comprises:


 * a group $G_\infty$;
 * for each $n \in \N$, a group homomorphism $u_n: G_n \to G_\infty$;

such that, for all $n \in \N$:


 * $u_{n+1} \circ g_n = u_n$

and, for all groups $H$ together with group homomorphisms $h_n: G_n \to H$ satisfying $h_{n+1} \circ g_n = h_n$, there exists a unique group homomorphism:


 * $v: G_\infty \to H$

such that for all $n \in \N$:


 * $h_n = v \circ u_n$

Definition 2
Let $\N$ be the poset category on the natural numbers.

Let $\mathbf{Grp}$ be the category of groups.

Let $G: \N \to \mathbf{Grp}$ be an $\N$-diagram in $\mathbf{Grp}$.

A direct limit for $G$ is a colimit ${\varinjlim \,}_n \, G_n$, and is denoted $G_\infty$.

Equivalence of Definitions
The definitions above are equivalent.

This is proved on Equivalent Definitions of Direct Limit of Sequence of Groups.

Also see

 * Existence and Uniqueness of Direct Limit of Sequence of Groups