The chemical reactions and pathways resulting in the breakdown of chitin, a linear polysaccharide consisting of beta-(1->4)-linked N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues.
synonyms:
beta-1,4-linked N-acetylglucosamine catabolism,
chitin catabolism,
chitin degradation,
chitin breakdown,
beta-1,4-linked N-acetylglucosamine catabolic process
