 Covariant derivative along a curve

A connection on a vector bundle pulls back along a smooth curve $\gamma$ to differentiate its time-dependent sections. For the tangent bundle, a section $V(t)$ of the pullback tangent bundle hasThe Leibniz rule under a change of frame proves independence of the coordinates. The derivative includes the time dependence of the coefficients, so it is meaningful even at a zero tangent velocity. A vector field along a map need not extend to one ambient field if the curve self-intersects. Parallel fields satisfy $D_{t}V=0$, a linear ordinary differential equation whose unique solutions define parallel transport.