Invertible module ($L{\otimes }_A{L}^{\ast }\cong A$)

An invertible module over a commutative ring $A$ is a finitely generated module that is a projective module and whose localization at a prime ideal is free of rank one at every prime. Its dual module $L^{\ast }={\mathrm{Hom}}_A(L,A)$ is also finite projective. Evaluation $L{\otimes }_A{L}^{\ast }\to A$ is an isomorphism after every prime localization, hence is an isomorphism globally by localization detects zero elements. The Picard group of a ring consists of the isomorphism classes of these modules under the tensor product of modules.

For a ring homomorphism $A\to B$, extension of scalars takes an invertible module to an invertible $B$-module. A direct-summand presentation in a finite free module remains a direct-summand presentation after tensoring. At a prime $\mathfrak{q}\subset B$ contracting to $\mathfrak{p}$, localization gives $B_{\mathfrak{q}}{\otimes }_{A_{\mathfrak{p}}}{L}_{\mathfrak{p}}\cong B_{\mathfrak{q}}$. Compatibility with tensor products, identities and composition makes the Picard group of a ring a covariant functor.