nLab functor category

Definition

Given categories $C$ and $D$, the functor category – written $D^C$ or $[C,D]$ – is the category whose

• objects are functors $F: C \to D$

• morphisms are natural transformations between these functors.

In homotopy type theory

Discussion in homotopy type theory.

Note: the HoTT book calls a internal category in HoTT a “precategory” and a univalent category a “category”, but here we shall refer to the standard terminology of “category” and “univalent category” respectively.

For categories $A,B$, there is a category $B^A$, called the functor category, defined by

• $(B^A)_0$ is the type of functors from $A$ to $B$.
• $hom_{B^A}(F,G)$ is the type of natural transformations from $F$ to $G$.

Proof. We define $(1_F)_a \equiv 1_{F a}$. Naturality follows by the unit axioms of a category. For $\gamma : F \to G$ and $\delta : G \to H$, we define $(\delta \circ \gamma)_a \equiv \delta_a \circ \gamma_a$. Naturality follows by associativity. Similarly, the unit and associativity laws for $B^A$ follow from those for $B$. $\square$

We define a natural isomorphism to be an isomorphism in $B^A$.

Usage

Functor categories serve as the hom-categories in the strict 2-category Cat.

In the context of enriched category theory the functor category is generalized to the enriched functor category.

In the absence of the axiom of choice (including many internal situations), the appropriate notion to use is often instead the anafunctor category.

Properties

Limits and colimits and closure

If $D$ has limits or colimits of a certain shape, then so does $[C,D]$ and they are computed pointwise. (However, if $D$ is not complete, then other limits in $[C,D]$ can exist “by accident” without being pointwise.)

If $C$ is small and $D$ is cartesian closed and complete, then $[C,D]$ is cartesian closed. See at cartesian closed category for a proof.

Accessibility and local presentability

Functor categories enjoy the following accessibility and local presentability properties, as explained by Zhen Lin Low at nForum.

• $\kappa$-accessible functors from a $\kappa$-accessible category to any accessible category form an accessible category. (It is not so easy to say what the accessibility rank is here.)

• $\kappa$-accessible functors from a $\kappa$-accessible category to any locally $\lambda$-presentable category form a locally $\lambda$-presentable category.

• Cocontinuous functors between locally presentable categories form a locally presentable category. More precisely, if $C$ and $D$ are locally $\kappa$-presentable, then so is $[C,D]$.

• Continuous accessible functors between locally presentable categories form the opposite of a locally presentable category. More precisely, if $C$ and $D$ are locally $\kappa$-presentable, then so is $[C,D]^{\rm op}$.

Indeed, the point is this: given a $\kappa$-accessible category $\mathcal{C} \simeq Ind^\kappa (\mathcal{A})$ ($\mathcal{A}$ essentially small), the category of $\kappa$-accessible functors $\mathcal{C} \to \mathcal{D}$ (for arbitrary $\mathcal{D}$; here by “$\kappa$-accessible” we mean simply “preserves $\kappa$-filtered colimits”) is naturally equivalent to the category of all $\mathcal{A} \to \mathcal{D}$. It should be well known that:

1. If $\mathcal{D}$ is accessible, then so is $[\mathcal{A}, \mathcal{D}]$.

2. If $\mathcal{D}$ is locally $\lambda$-presentable, then so is $[\mathcal{A}, \mathcal{D}]$.

3. Colimit-preserving functors out of a locally $\kappa$-presentable category are $\kappa$-accessible.

4. A right adjoint between locally $\kappa$-presentable categories is $\kappa$-accessible if and only if its left adjoint is strongly $\kappa$-accessible (i.e. preserves $\kappa$-presentable objects as well as $\kappa$-filtered colimits); and every limit-preserving accessible functor between locally presentable categories is a right adjoint.

Statements 1 and 2 are proved in [Adamek and Rosick, Locally presentable and accessible categories], statement 3 is obvious, and statement 4 is a straightforward exercise. Thus the claims follow.

In general, accessible functors between accessible categories do not form an accessible category due to size issues. The best one can hope for is a class-accessible category. Let $\mathcal{C}$ be an accessible category that is not essentially small. Consider the category $\mathcal{A}$ of all accessible functors $\mathcal{C} \to \mathbf{Set}$. This is the same as the smallest full replete subcategory of $[\mathcal{C}, \mathbf{Set}]$ containing all representable functors and closed under small colimits. In particular, $\mathcal{A}$ is accessible if and only if $\mathcal{A}$ locally presentable. We claim $\mathcal{A}$ is not accessible.

Indeed, suppose $\mathcal{A}$ has a small generating family, say $\mathcal{G}$. Then for some regular cardinal $\kappa$, every member of $\mathcal{G}$ is $\kappa$-accessible. So consider $\mathcal{C} (X, -)$ for some object $X$ that is not $\kappa$-presentable. (Such an $X$ exists because $\mathcal{C}$ is not essentially small.) Since $\mathcal{G}$ generates, there is a small diagram of $\kappa$-accessible functors whose colimit is $\mathcal{C} (X, -)$. But then $\mathcal{C} (X, -)$ is a retract of a $\kappa$-accessible functor and hence $\kappa$-accessible: a contradiction. That said, $\mathcal{A}$ is a class-locally presentable category.

In homotopy type theory

Lemma 9.2.4

A natural transformation $\gamma : F \to G$ is an isomorphism in $B^A$ if and only if each $\gamma_a$ is an isomorphism in $B$.

Proof. If $\gamma$ is an isomorphism, then we have $\delta : G \to F$ that is its inverse. By definition of composition in $B^A$, $(\delta \gamma)_a \equiv \delta_a \gamma_a$. Thus, $\delta \gamma = 1_F$ and $\gamma \delta=1_G$ imply that $\delta_a \gamma_a = 1_{F a}$ and $\gamma_a \delta_a = 1_{G a}$, so $\gamma_a$ is an isomorphism.

Conversely, suppose each $\gamma_a$ is an isomorphism, with inverse called $\delta_a$. We define a natural transformation $\delta : G \to F$ with components $\delta_a$; for the naturality axiom we have

$$F f \circ \delta_a=\delta_b \circ \gamma_b \circ F f \circ \delta_a = \delta_b \circ G f \circ \gamma_a \circ \delta_a = \delta_b \circ G f$$

Now since composition and identity of natural transformations is determined on their components, we have $\gamma \delta=1_G$ and $\delta \gamma 1_F.\ \square$

Theorem 9.2.5

If $A$ is a category and $B$ is a univalent category, then $B^A$ is a univalent category.

Proof. Let $F,G:A\to B$; we must show that $idtoiso:({F}={G}) \to (F\cong G)$ is an equivalence.

To give an inverse to it, suppose $\gamma:F\cong G$ is a natural isomorphism. Then for any $a:A$, we have an isomorphism $\gamma_a:F a \cong G a$, hence an identity $isotoid(\gamma_a):{F a}={G a}$. By function extensionality, we have an identity $\bar{\gamma}:{F_0}=_{(A_0\to B_0)}{G_0}$.

Now since the last two axioms of a functor are mere propositions, to show that ${F}={G}$ it will suffice to show that for any $a,b:A$, the functions

$$F_{a,b}:hom_A(a,b) \to hom_B(F a,F b)$$

$$G_{a,b}:hom_A(a,b) \to hom_B(G a,G b)$$

become equal when transported? along $\bar\gamma$. By computation for function extensionality, when applied to $a$, $\bar\gamma$ becomes equal to $isotoid(\gamma_a)$.

This reference needs to be included. For now as transports are not yet written up I didn’t bother including a reference to the page univalent category. -Ali

But by [INCLUDE ME], transporting $F f:hom_B(F a,F b)$ along $isotoid(\gamma_a)$ and $isotoid(\gamma_b)$ is equal to the composite $\gamma_b\circ F f\circ \inv{(\gamma_a)}$, which by naturality of $\gamma$ is equal to $G f$.

This completes the definition of a function $(F\cong G) \to (F =G)$. Now consider the composite

$$(F= G) \to (F\cong G) \to (F =G).$$

Since hom-sets are sets, their identity types are mere propositions, so to show that two identities $p,q:F =G$ are equal, it suffices to show that $p =_{{F_0}={G_0}}{q}$. But in the definition of $\bar\gamma$, if $\gamma$ were of the form $idtoiso(p)$, then $\gamma_a$ would be equal to $idtoiso(p_a)$ (this can easily be proved by induction on $p$). Thus, $isotoid(\gamma_a)$ would be equal to $p_a$, and so by function extensionality we would have ${\bar\gamma}={p}$, which is what we need.

Finally, consider the composite

$$(F\cong G)\to ( F = G) \to (F\cong G).$$

Since identity of natural transformations can be tested componentwise, it suffices to show that for each $a$ we have ${idtoiso(\bar\gamma)_a}={\gamma_a}$. But as observed above, we have ${idtoiso(\bar\gamma)_a}={idtoiso((\bar\gamma)_a)}$, while ${(\bar\gamma)_a}={isotoid(\gamma_a)}$ by computation for function extensionality. Since $isotoid$ and $idtoiso$ are inverses, we have ${idtoiso(\bar\gamma)_a}={\gamma_a}$ as desired. $\square$

Size issues

If $C$ and $D$ are small, then $[C,D]$ is also small.

If $C$ is small and $D$ is locally small, then $[C,D]$ is still locally small.

Even if $C$ and $D$ are locally small, if $C$ is not small, then $[C,D]$ will usually not be locally small.

As a partial converse to the above, if $C$ and $[C,Set]$ are locally small, then $C$ must be essentially small; see Freyd & Street (1995).

Related concepts

• 2-functor 2-category

• (infinity,1)-category of (infinity,1)-functors

• simplicial mapping complex

• inertia groupoid

References

• Univalent Foundations Project, Homotopy Type Theory – Univalent Foundations of Mathematics (2013)