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Let $B$ be a subterminal object in a cartesian closed category. For every $X$ and $A$, the exponential object adjunction givesThe set on the right has at most one element because $B$ is subterminal. Hence $B^A$ is subterminal, proving that $\mathrm{Sub}(1)$ is an exponential ideal.

Now let $\mathcal{D}\subseteq \mathcal{C}$ be reflective, with reflector $L$ and unit ${\eta }_A:A\to LA$. Recall the useful form of its universal property: an object $D$ lies in $\mathcal{D}$ precisely when every map $f:A\to D$ factors uniquely through ${\eta }_A$.

Suppose first that $\mathcal{D}$ is an exponential ideal. Reflective subcategories are closed under ambient limits, so $LA\times LB$ lies in $\mathcal{D}$. Given $f:A\times B\to D$ with $D\in \mathcal{D}$, curry in the first variable to obtain $A\to D^B$. Since $D^B\in \mathcal{D}$, this factors uniquely through ${\eta }_A$ and uncurries to $LA\times B\to D$. Curry once more, now in $B$; since $D^{LA}\in \mathcal{D}$, the result factors uniquely through ${\eta }_B$. Thus every $f$ factors uniquely throughThis makes $LA\times LB$ a reflection of $A\times B$, so uniqueness of reflections gives

Conversely, suppose $L$ preserves binary products, and take $D\in \mathcal{D}$. To prove $D^A\in \mathcal{D}$, start with $f:X\to D^A$ and let $\tilde{f}:X\times A\to D$ be its transpose. Since $D$ is reflective, $\tilde{f}$ factors uniquely throughComposing the resulting map $LX\times LA\to D$ with $1_{LX}\times {\eta }_A$ and currying produces an extension $LX\to D^A$ of $f$. Product preservation identifies the unit on $LX\times A$ with $1_{LX}\times {\eta }_A$, so the same universal property proves uniqueness. Therefore $D^A$ is reflective, and $\mathcal{D}$ is an exponential ideal. This proves the reflector product criterion for an exponential ideal.

Finally consider the arrow category $[2,\mathbf{Set}]$. For arrows $a:A_0\to A_1$ and $b:B_0\to B_1$, letThen the exponential $b^a$ is the arrowIndeed, a commutative square from $c:C_0\to C_1$ to this arrow is, after currying, exactly a commutative square $a\times c\to b$. This establishes the required exponential adjunction and proves that $[2,\mathbf{Set}]$ is cartesian closed.

If $b$ is injective, two elements $(u_0,u_1)$ and $(u_0^{\prime },u_1)$ of $F$ haveso injectivity gives $u_0=u_0^{\prime }$. Hence $F\to B_1^{A_1}$ is injective. The category of injective functions is therefore an exponential ideal in the arrow category. Its terminal object and binary products are inherited pointwise, so these same exponential objects make $\mathrm{Mono}(\mathbf{Set})$ cartesian closed.

For a reflective subcategory $\mathcal{D}$ of a cartesian closed category $\mathcal{C}$, with reflector $L$, the subcategory $\mathcal{D}$ is an exponential ideal if and only if the canonical comparisonis an isomorphism for every $A,B$. The proof repeatedly curries a map into an object of $\mathcal{D}$ and factors it through the unit of the reflection.