The decomposition space perspective

This paper provides an introduction to decomposition spaces and 2-Segal spaces, unifying the two perspectives. We begin by defining decomposition spaces using the active-inert factorization system on the simplicial category, and show their equivalence to 2-Segal spaces. Key results include the path space criterion, which characterizes decomposition spaces in terms of their upper and lower décalages, and the edgewise subdivision criterion. We also introduce free decomposition spaces arising from outer face complexes, providing a rich source of examples. Formal prerequisites are minimal—readers should have a working knowledge of simplicial methods and basic category theory.