Functor between Monoid Categories

Theorem

Let $\left({S, \circ}\right)$ and $\left({T, *}\right)$ be monoids.

Let $\mathbf S$ and $\mathbf T$ be the associated monoid categories.

Let $F: \mathbf S \to \mathbf T$ be a functor.

By definition of monoid category, we have:

$\mathbf S_1 = S, \mathbf T_1 = T$

which in particular are sets.

Hence the morphism functor $F_1: \mathbf S_1 \to \mathbf T_1$ is a mapping $F_1: S \to T$.

For $F_1$ to be a monoid homomorphism, it suffices to show that the following hold:

$F_1 \left({e_S}\right) = e_T$

$\forall s_1, s_2 \in S: F_1 \left({s_1 \circ s_2}\right) = F_1 \left({s_1}\right) * F_1 \left({s_2}\right)$

Since all $s_1, s_2 \in S$ are composable morphisms of $\mathbf S$, these conditions are exactly equivalent to $F$ being a functor.

Hence the result.

$\blacksquare$