Čech cohomology (${\check{H}}^p(\mathcal{U},\mathcal{F})$)

For an open cover $\mathcal{U}=(U_i)$, the Čech cochain group iswith the alternating sum of restrictions as differential. Its cohomology is the Čech cohomology of $\mathcal{F}$ with respect to $\mathcal{U}$.

The Čech cochain complex places sections on $(p+1)$-fold intersections in degree $p$ and uses the alternating sum of restriction maps as its differential.

A Čech cochain is a cocycle when its alternating coboundary vanishes. For a multiplicative one-cochain $(g_{ij})$, this says $g_{ij}{g}_{jk}=g_{ik}$ on triple intersections.

A Čech coboundary is the image of a cochain in the preceding degree. Multiplicatively, a zero-cochain $(h_i)$ changes a one-cocycle by $g_{ij}\mapsto h_i^{-1}{g}_{ij}{h}_j$.

If every nonempty finite intersection of members of an open cover has vanishing higher sheaf cohomology for $\mathcal{F}$, then the cover's Čech cohomology computes $H^p(X,\mathcal{F})$. An affine open cover of a separated scheme satisfies this condition for a quasi-coherent sheaf because its finite intersections are affine.