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A connection on a vector bundle specifies how to compare nearby fibers without identifying them globally. Several equivalent descriptions expose its algebra, local calculations and geometry.

The first description is a vector bundle covariant derivative, a real-linear mapEquivalently ${\nabla }_{X}s$ is linear over smooth functions in the vector field $X$, and obeys ${\nabla }_X(fs)=X(f)s+f{\nabla }_{X}s$ in the section. The derivative term distinguishes a connection from a bundle homomorphism. The Leibniz rule also makes it local: use a smooth cutoff equal to one near a point to see that its value depends only on the section near that point. Thus a connection restricts consistently to all open subsets.

The second description is a family of connection matrices in local frames. Write a frame as a row $e=(e_1,\dots ,e_m)$, so a section is $s=eu$ with coefficient column $u$. The connection is thenwhere $A$ is a matrix of one-forms determined by $\nabla e_j={\sum }_i{e}_i{A}^i{}_j$. If $e^{\prime }=eg$, the same section has $u=g{u}^{\prime }$. Expanding the Leibniz rule givesHence the change of frame of a vector-bundle connection isConversely, matrices of one-forms satisfying this transformation rule define $\nabla (eu)=e(du+Au)$ in each frame. The displayed calculation proves that these local formulas agree on overlaps; they therefore glue to a connection and obey its Leibniz rule. This proves equivalence of the first two descriptions in both directions.

A third description is parallel transport. Along a smooth curve $\gamma :[a,b]\to B$, a parallel section $s(t)=e(\gamma (t))u(t)$ satisfiesExistence and uniqueness for linear ordinary differential equations supply a unique solution for each initial fiber vector, smoothly dependent on that vector and on smooth families of curves. The frame transformation law makes these local solutions glue. The resulting map $P_{\gamma ,a,b}:E_{\gamma (a)}\to E_{\gamma (b)}$ is linear and invertible; reversing the curve gives its inverse, and concatenating curves composes the maps. It is generally dependent on the path, not just its endpoints.

One can recover the covariant derivative from this transport. For $\gamma (0)=b$ and $\dot{\gamma }(0)=X$, let $P_{0,t}$ be its transport from $0$ to $t$. ThenTo verify the formula rather than assume it, use a local frame and a fundamental solution matrix $P(t)$ with $P(0)=I$ and $\dot{P}=-A(\dot{\gamma })P$. Differentiation gives $(P^{-1}u{)}^{\prime }{|}_0=\dot{u}(0)+A_b(X)u(0)$, exactly the local covariant-derivative formula. Conversely the connection reconstructed from transport defined by this equation has the same differential equation and, by uniqueness, the same transport. Thus this viewpoint is also equivalent for the transport rules arising from a connection.

A fourth description is a linear horizontal distribution on a vector bundle. In a trivialization $E{|}_U=U\times {\mathbb{R}}^m$, putProjection maps this subspace isomorphically to $T_{b}B$, and it complements the vertical tangent space. Under the coordinate change $v=g{v}^{\prime }$, differentiation gives $\dot{v}=(dg)(X)v^{\prime }+g{\dot{v}}^{\prime }$. Thus the horizontal equation transforms into ${\dot{v}}^{\prime }=-A^{\prime }(X)v^{\prime }$, with exactly the same frame-change law. The subspaces consequently glue independently of trivializations. Their fiberwise linear dependence on $v$ is essential: an arbitrary horizontal complement can describe a nonlinear connection on the total space and need not define a vector-bundle connection. Conversely a horizontal complement with this linearity has a unique local expression of the displayed form, recovering the matrices $A$. Its horizontal lifts are precisely the parallel sections just described.

One can also express the geometry on the frame bundle as a principal connection. In local frame-bundle coordinates $(b,g)$, its Lie-algebra-valued form isIt is equivariant under right translation, $R_h^{\ast }\omega ={\mathrm{Ad}}_{h^{-1}}\omega$, and equals $\xi$ on the vertical vector generated by $\xi$. These properties define a principal connection; its kernel is the horizontal distribution on the frame bundle. Pulling back by a local frame section gives $A$, and its frame-change rule is once again the same formula. This identifies the principal viewpoint with the earlier descriptions.

Connections are not a vector space with a distinguished origin. The difference of two connections is linear over smooth functions in both $X$ and $s$, because their Leibniz terms cancel. It is a one-form with values in $\mathrm{End}E$. Conversely adding any such form to a connection gives another connection. Thus the collection is an affine space of vector-bundle connections modeled on ${\Omega }^1(B;\mathrm{End}E)$. The local curvature in the usual vector-bundle convention is $F=dA+A\wedge A$, representing ${\nabla }_X{\nabla }_Y-{\nabla }_Y{\nabla }_X-{\nabla }_{[X,Y]}$. It records the infinitesimal failure of path-independent parallel transport. Question 6 uses the opposite curvature sign, which will be stated explicitly there.

A connection on a vector bundle $E\to M$ is a linear map $D:\Gamma (E)\to {\Omega }^1(M;E)$ with $D(fs)=df\otimes s+fDs$. Write a local frame as a row $e=(e_1,\dots ,e_r)$, and a section as $s=eu$ with a coefficient column $u$. If the connection one-form is the matrix $A={\sum }_i{A}_{i}d{x}^i$, thenThis fixes the matrix convention for all subsequent signs.

For an $E$-valued differential form of degree $k$, represented locally by a column $\alpha$ of ordinary forms, its covariant exterior derivative isThe defining graded Leibniz rule with a scalar form $\omega$ of degree $j$ isIt follows by moving the one-form $A$ past $\omega$, which introduces $(-1{)}^j$. It uniquely extends the connection on sections.

The induced endomorphism bundle connection is characterized on an endomorphism section $T$ by $(D^{\mathrm{End}}T)s=D(Ts)-T(Ds)$. For a matrix-valued form $\beta$ of degree $k$, the extension isIndeed it is exactly the formula that makesThe endomorphism-valued exterior product uses matrix composition as well as the ordinary exterior product, so factors cannot in general be interchanged.

Define the curvature form of a connection by $D^2$ acting on sections, or equivalently byIt is tensorial in both vector arguments and in $s$: the derivatives of multiplying functions cancel by the connection rule. For example $D^2(fs)=D(dfs+fDs)=f{D}^{2}s$, since the two $df\wedge Ds$ terms cancel and $d^{2}f=0$. Thus curvature is a two-form with values in the endomorphism bundle. Locally, applying the graded rule givessoFor a change of frame of a vector-bundle connection $e^{\prime }=eg$, the coefficients satisfy $u^{\prime }=g^{-1}u$, and differentiation givesSquaring yields $F^{\prime }=g^{-1}Fg$, precisely the transformation rule of an endomorphism-valued two-form. This independently proves that the local expressions define one global curvature form of a connection.

For the Bianchi identity, use the endomorphism formula with degree two:Every term cancels with its indicated sign. Thereforewhere $d_A$ here means the induced derivative on the endomorphism bundle.

For a line bundle, the endomorphism bundle is canonically the trivial scalar bundle: every fibre endomorphism is a scalar times the identity. Scalar multiplication commutes, so $A\wedge A=0$ and the endomorphism covariant derivative on scalar-valued forms reduces to $d$. The Bianchi identity consequently says $dF=0$.

If $D^{\prime }$ is another connection, their difference is $C^{\infty }$-linear in sections because the Leibniz terms cancel. Hence $D^{\prime }-D=\eta$ is a global endomorphism-valued one-form; for a line bundle it is an ordinary global scalar one-form. Locally $A^{\prime }=A+\eta$, soThus the two closed curvatures differ by an exact form, proving the connection-independent curvature class of a line bundle:No global trivialization of the line bundle itself was assumed; it is its endomorphism bundle that has the canonical scalar identification.

A connection on a vector bundle is a linear operator $\nabla :\Gamma (E)\to {\Omega }^1(M;E)$ satisfying $\nabla (fs)=df\otimes s+f\nabla s$. Choose coordinates $x^i$ and a local frame $e_1,\dots ,e_m$, and define the connection matrix by $\nabla e_b={\sum }_a{A}^a{}_b\otimes e_a$, with $A^a{}_b={\sum }_i{A}^a{}_{bi}d{x}^i$. For a section $s={\sum }_a{s}^a{e}_a$, the coefficient column satisfiesThe symbol $d$ on the right means the ordinary exterior derivative of the coefficient functions.

Extend uniquely to $E$-valued differential forms by the graded Leibniz ruleIn the same local trivialization, an $E$-valued form is a column $\sigma =({\sigma }^a)$ and the covariant exterior derivative isMoving the one-form $A$ past the scalar $r$-form produces exactly the $(-1{)}^r$ in the graded rule. This explains the sign rather than replacing the rule by an ungraded product formula.

The endomorphism bundle has the induced endomorphism bundle connection characterized on sections by ${\nabla }_X^{\mathrm{End}}(T)s={\nabla }_X(Ts)-T{\nabla }_{X}s$. Its coefficient formula is $dT+AT-TA$. On an endomorphism-valued $r$-form $T$, extend as a graded derivation of the endomorphism-valued exterior product, givingExplicitly its $(a,b)$ entry is $d{T}^a{}_b+{\sum }_c{A}^a{}_c\wedge T^c{}_b-(-1{)}^r{\sum }_c{T}^a{}_c\wedge A^c{}_b$. This version is characterized byThe endomorphism-valued version also satisfies $d_A(T\wedge S)=d_{A}T\wedge S+(-1{)}^{r}T\wedge d_{A}S$. Products here combine composition of endomorphisms with wedge products of coefficient forms; matrix factors must retain their order.

These local formulas are independent of the local frame. For $e^{\prime }=eg$, the change of frame of a vector-bundle connection gives $A^{\prime }=g^{-1}Ag+g^{-1}dg$, ${\sigma }^{\prime }=g^{-1}\sigma$ and $T^{\prime }=g^{-1}Tg$. Using $d(g^{-1})=-g^{-1}(dg)g^{-1}$ gives $d_{A^{\prime }}{\sigma }^{\prime }=g^{-1}{d}_A\sigma$ and $d_{A^{\prime }}{T}^{\prime }=g^{-1}(d_{A}T)g$. Thus both extended operators are globally defined.

Let another local frame be $e^{\prime }=eA$ with $A:U\to G{L}_r(\mathbb{R})$ smooth. Since the coefficient columns satisfy $u=A{u}^{\prime }$, the Leibniz rule gives the change of frame of a vector-bundle connection:The curvature form of a connection is linear over smooth functions in its section argument, so its matrix transforms homogeneously:ConsequentlyThe entries of $A$ are functions, of degree zero, so ordinary cyclic invariance of trace applies without a graded sign. The local forms therefore glue to a globally defined two-form $\alpha =\mathrm{tr}\Theta$, the trace of vector-bundle curvature.

Apply the Bianchi identity proved in part (b):For the first term,The middle interchange has sign $(-1{)}^{2\cdot 1}=1$, and the next equality simply renames $i,j$. ThusOne can also check closedness locally: the off-diagonal terms in $\mathrm{tr}(\theta \wedge \theta )={\sum }_{i,j}{\theta }_{ij}\wedge {\theta }_{ji}$ cancel in pairs, while the diagonal terms vanish. Hence $\alpha =d(\mathrm{tr}\theta )$ in each frame, and $d^2=0$ gives the same conclusion.

The expression $d\varphi (X)$ is in general a vector field along a map, rather than a vector field on $M$. Its intended meaning in the required formula is pointwise evaluation of the vector-bundle-valued differential form $\nabla s$:using the canonical identification $({\varphi }^{\ast }E{)}_p=E_{\varphi (p)}$. This interpretation works for every smooth map, including a constant map or a map with self-intersections.

Choose a frame of a vector bundle over $U$, written as a row $e=(e_1,\dots ,e_r)$. Define its connection one-form $\Omega$ byfor component columns $u$. The pulled-back frame $e^{\varphi }=({\varphi }^{\ast }{e}_1,\dots ,{\varphi }^{\ast }{e}_r)$ is a frame of a vector bundle over ${\varphi }^{-1}U$. For any component column $v$ of smooth functions on that open set, defineHere the matrix entries of ${\varphi }^{\ast }\Omega$ are ordinary pullbacks of a differential form. The displayed operator is linear and satisfies the Leibniz rule, hence is locally a connection on a vector bundle.

To prove these local operators glue, change the original frame of a vector bundle to $\tilde{e}=eh$. Expanding $\nabla (ehu)$ gives the change of frame of a vector-bundle connectionThe pullback of a differential form and the chain rule giveThis is precisely the required transformation law for the pulled-back frame ${\tilde{e}}^{\varphi }=e^{\varphi }(h\circ \varphi )$. Thus the definitions agree and give a global pullback connection.

For $s=eu$, substitute $v=u\circ \varphi$ in the defining formula and use $d(u\circ \varphi )(X)=du(d\varphi (X))$. This proves the required identity. Conversely that identity fixes ${\nabla }_X^{\prime }({\varphi }^{\ast }{e}_a)$; the Leibniz rule then fixes the derivative of every ${\sum }_a{v}^a{\varphi }^{\ast }{e}_a$, proving uniqueness. If the identity is initially imposed only on global sections of a vector bundle, multiply each local frame section by a smooth bump function equal to one near the point in question and supported in $U$, and extend by zero. These global sections agree with the frame locally, so the same uniqueness argument applies. The pullback connection exists and is unique.

A vector field along a map $\gamma$ assigns $V(t)\in T_{\gamma (t)}M$ smoothly to each parameter value. Equivalently, it is a section of a vector bundle ${\gamma }^{\ast }TM$. The pullback connection defines its covariant derivative along a curve, $D_{t}V$. To make the definition explicit, use connection coefficients with the conventionFor $V=V^k(t){\partial }_k{|}_{\gamma (t)}$ the derivative isThe change of frame of a vector-bundle connection ensures this expression is independent of the coordinate chart. It remains meaningful when $\dot{\gamma }=0$ and does not require extending $V$ to one ambient vector field.

The field is parallel exactly when $\boxed{D_{t}V=0}$. A geodesic for $\nabla$, with its specified affine parameter, is a smooth curve whose own tangent is parallel:This definition applies to any affine connection, whether or not it is a metric connection. A non-affine change of parameter generally gives a pregeodesic instead of this parametrized geodesic.

Use a row of local frame sections $e=(e_1,\dots ,e_m)$ and columns of coefficients: $D(eu)=e(du+Au)$. If $e^{\prime }=eg$ for a smooth invertible matrix-valued function $g$, thenHence the change of frame of a vector-bundle connection isThis convention specifies both the placement of the frame matrix and the sign of the inhomogeneous term. The vector-bundle curvature transforms by ${\Theta }^{\prime }=g^{-1}\Theta g$, either by applying $D^2$ to the new frame or by substituting in the formula of the next subpart.