For a f:XYf:X^\bullet\to Y^\bullet, its mapping cone is the complex with graded object

Cone(f)n=YnXn+1\operatorname{Cone}(f)^n=Y^n\oplus X^{n+1}

and differential built from the differentials of XX and YY together with ff, with signs determined by the grading convention. It fits into a canonical triangle

XfYCone(f)X[1].X\xrightarrow{f}Y\to\operatorname{Cone}(f)\to X[1].

Mapping-cone triangles motivate the and the of triangulated categories.