Math 2.0

Category theory; homological algebra Definition

Finitely complete category

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Definition

Let π’ž\mathcal{C} be a category. π’ž\mathcal{C} is finitely complete if every diagram F ⁣:Jβ†’π’žF \colon J \to \mathcal{C} with JJ a finite category has a limit in π’ž\mathcal{C}. Here a category JJ is finite when it has finitely many objects and finitely many morphisms.

Remarks

The following are equivalent for a category π’ž\mathcal{C}:

  1. π’ž\mathcal{C} is finitely complete.
  2. π’ž\mathcal{C} has a terminal object, binary products and equalizers.
  3. π’ž\mathcal{C} has a terminal object and pullbacks.

Example: the category of finite sets is finitely complete. Its terminal object is a one-point set, and the pullback of f ⁣:Xβ†’Zf \colon X \to Z and g ⁣:Yβ†’Zg \colon Y \to Z is the finite set {(x,y):f(x)=g(y)}\set{(x, y) : f(x) = g(y)}.

Non-example: the totally ordered set (β„€,≀)(\Z, \le), seen as a category, has all pullbacks but no terminal object. In a preorder the pullback of xβ†’z←yx \to z \leftarrow y is min⁑(x,y)\min(x, y), and a terminal object would be a greatest element.

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  1. Category concept
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Further reading

  1. Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complete_category
About this page
TagRNCFXWTPFK
URIm2://RNCFXWTPFK
Kinddefinition
WritingW0 stub
MSC18A35
DefinesFinitely complete category
UsesCategory, Diagram, Limit
Changed2 November 2026

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