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A composition series of a module is a finite chain of submodules whose nonzero successive quotient modules are simple modules. Every finite-dimensional Lie algebra representation has such a chain, viewed as a module over the universal enveloping algebra.

A submodule $N$ of a module $M$ is a direct summand if some submodule $L$ gives $M=N\oplus L$. Equivalently, the inclusion has a left inverse R-module homomorphism, or $N$ is the image of an idempotent endomorphism of $M$.

A submodule $N\subseteq M$ is an essential submodule if it intersects every nonzero submodule of $M$ nontrivially. A nonzero module is a uniform module precisely when every nonzero submodule is an essential submodule.

Partition the isomorphism classes of simple modules into two sets ${\mathcal{C}}_1,{\mathcal{C}}_2$, with ${\mathrm{Ext}}^1(S,T)={\mathrm{Ext}}^1(T,S)=0$ whenever $S,T$ lie in different sets. Every module $M$ of finite composition length then has a unique decomposition $M=U_1\oplus U_2$ into its largest submodules whose Jordan–Hölder factors belong to the respective sets.

For a simple $S\in {\mathcal{C}}_1$ and a finite-length $N$ with factors in ${\mathcal{C}}_2$, induction through the long exact sequence of the Ext functor gives ${\mathrm{Ext}}^1(S,N)=0$. Induct on the length of $M$: take $0\to N\to M\to S\to 0$, split $N=N_1\oplus N_2$, and suppose $S\in {\mathcal{C}}_1$. The quotient extension $0\to N_2\to M/N_1\to S\to 0$ splits. The inverse image of its $S$-summand complements $N_2$ in $M$ and has only factors in ${\mathcal{C}}_1$. Finally, Hom between modules with factors in different sets is zero, since any nonzero image would have a factor in both sets. Projecting any proposed submodule to the opposite summand therefore proves maximality and uniqueness.

A nonzero module is indecomposable if it cannot be expressed as a direct sum of two nonzero submodules. The zero module is excluded. A module of finite composition length is indecomposable exactly when its endomorphism ring has no idempotents other than zero and one: an idempotent splits the module into its image and kernel.

A module retraction onto a submodule $U\stackrel{i}{\to }X$ is a module homomorphism $r:X\to U$ with $ri=I_U$. It gives $X=i(U)\oplus \ker r$: write $x=i(r(x))+(x-i(r(x)))$. Thus a nonzero proper submodule admitting a retraction contradicts indecomposability. Extending a projection from a larger submodule can produce such a retraction through the long exact sequence of Ext groups.

Every unital $k$-subalgebra $A\subseteq k[T,T^{-1}]$ is a Noetherian ring. If $A\subseteq k[T]$ or $k[T^{-1}]$, a nonconstant element $f\in A$ makes that ambient polynomial ring a finitely generated module over $k[f]$. Otherwise $A$ contains an $f$ with both positive and negative exponents, and both $T$ and $T^{-1}$ are integral elements over $k[f]$. In either case $A$ is a submodule of a finite module over the Noetherian ring $k[f]$, and every ideal of $A$ is finitely generated over $k[f]$, hence over $A$.

An $R$-module is Noetherian when every submodule is finitely generated, equivalently when every ascending chain of submodules stabilizes. Quotients and finite direct sums of Noetherian modules are Noetherian.