Product as Limit

Theorem
Let $\mathbf C$ be a metacategory.

Let $C_1, C_2$ be objects of $\mathbf C$.

Let their binary product $C_1 \times C_2$ exist in $\mathbf C$.

Then $C_1 \times C_2$ is the limit of the diagram $D: 2 \to \mathbf C$ defined by:


 * $D_0 := C_1, D_1 := C_2$

where $2$ is the discrete category with two objects $0, 1$.

Proof
Since there are no non-identity morphisms, a cone to $D$ is simply a pair:


 * $\begin{xy}\xymatrix@+1em@L+3px{

C_1 & C \ar[l]_*+{f_1} \ar[r]^*+{f_2} & C_2 }\end{xy}$

of morphisms with common domain $C$.

By the UMP of the binary product $C_1 \times C_2$, for such a cone to $D$ there is a unique $u: C \to C_1 \times C_2$ making:


 * $\begin{xy}\xymatrix@L+3px@+1em{

& C \ar[dl]_*+{f_1} \ar@{-->}[d]^*{u} \ar[dr]^*+{f_2}

\\ C_1 & C_1 \times C_2 \ar[l]_*+{p_1} \ar[r]^*+{p_2} & C_2 }\end{xy}$

a commutative diagram.

The conditions $p_1 \circ u = f_1$ and $p_2 \circ u = f_2$ precisely mean that $u: C \to C_1 \times C_2$ is a morphism of cones.

Thus for every cone $\left({C, f_1, f_2}\right)$ to $D$, there is a unique morphism of cones to the cone $\left({C_1 \times C_2, p_1, p_2}\right)$.

That is, $\left({C_1 \times C_2, p_1, p_2}\right)$ is a terminal object in $\mathbf{Cone} \left({D}\right)$, the category of cones to $D$.

Hence the result, by definition of limit.