Functor Category is Category

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Theorem

Let $\mathbf C$ and $\mathbf D$ be categories.

Then the functor category $\mathrm{Fun}(\mathbf C, \mathbf D)$ is a category.

Proof

We check the metacategory axioms.

The validity of the material on this page is questionable. In particular: Clearly this is a metacategory but is this really a category? You can help $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ by resolving the issues. To discuss this page in more detail, feel free to use the talk page. When this work has been completed, you may remove this instance of {{Questionable}} from the code. If you would welcome a second opinion as to whether your work is correct, add a call to {{Proofread}} the page.

Composition (C1)

By Composite Of Natural Transformations is Natural Transformation composition of morphisms in $\map {\operatorname {Fun} } {\mathbf C, \mathbf D}$ is well-defined.

$\Box$

Existence of identity morphisms (C2)

Let $F$ be an object of $\map {\operatorname {Fun} } {\mathbf C, \mathbf D}$, that is a functor $F:

\mathbf C \to \mathbf D$

Define $\mathrm{id}_F : F \to F$ as the transformation, that assigns to every object $A$ of $\mathbf C$ the identity morphism $\operatorname {id}_{\map F A} : \map F A \to \map F A$.

Let $f : A \to B$ be a morphism in $\mathbf C$.

The diagram:

$\xymatrix{ \map F A \ar[r]^{\operatorname {id}_{\map F A} } \ar[d]^{\map F f} & F(A) \ar[d]^{\map F f} \\ \map F B \ar[r]^{\operatorname {id}_{\map F B} } & \map F B }$

is commutative, since:

$\map F f = \operatorname {id}_{\map F B} \circ \map F f = \map F f \circ \operatorname {id}_{\map F A}$.

Hence $\operatorname {id}_F$ is a natural transformation.

Let $G: \mathbf C \to \mathbf D$ be a functor.

Let $\alpha: F \to G$ be a natural transformation.

For every object $A$ of $\mathbf C$, we have:

$\alpha_A \circ \operatorname {id}_{\map F A} = \alpha_A$, so $\alpha \circ \operatorname {id}_F = \alpha$

Let $H : \mathbf C \to \mathbf D$ be a functor.

Let $\beta : H \to F$ be a natural transformation.

For every object $A$ of $\mathbf C$, we have:

$\operatorname {id}_{\map F A} \circ \beta_A = \beta_A$, so $\operatorname {id}_F \circ \beta = \beta$

$\Box$

Associativity of composition (C3)

Let $F_1, F_2, F_3, F_4 : \mathbf C \to \mathbf D$ be functors.

Let $\alpha_1: F_1 \to F_2$, $\alpha_2: F_2 \to F_3$, $\alpha_3: F_3 \to F_4$ be natural transformations.

For every object $A$ of $\mathbf C$, we have morphisms:

$\alpha_{1, A}: \map {F_1} A \to \map {F_2} A$

$\alpha_{2, A}: \map {F_2} A \to \map {F_3} A$

$\alpha_{3, A}: \map {F_3} A \to \map {F_4} A$

By associativity of composition in $\mathbf D$:

$\paren {\alpha_{3, A} \circ \alpha_{2, A} } \circ \alpha_{1, A} = \alpha_{3, A} \circ \paren {\alpha_{2, A} \circ \alpha_{1, A} }$

The associativity:

$\paren {\alpha_3 \circ \alpha_2} \circ \alpha_1 = \alpha_3 \circ \paren {\alpha_2 \circ \alpha_1}$

follows.

$\Box$

$\blacksquare$