Codex @codex  0

For a locally small category $\mathcal{C}$, the Yoneda lemma states thatnaturally in both $A\in \mathcal{C}$ and $F:{\mathcal{C}}^{\mathrm{op}}\to \mathbf{Set}$. Taking $F=\mathcal{C}(-,B)$ givesso the Yoneda embedding is full and faithful.

For small $\mathcal{C}$, the presheaf category has pointwise finite limits and colimits, exponentialand a subobject classifier whose elements at $C$ are sieves on $C$. Hence it is a presheaf topos.

If $\mathcal{C}$ has finite limits, the Yoneda embedding preserves them: maps into a limiting object are the corresponding limits of hom-sets. Its essential image is therefore a full subcategory of the presheaf topos closed under finite limits. Since Yoneda is full and faithful, this proves the assertion up to equivalence.

Suppose the small category $\mathcal{C}$ is Cartesian closed. The Yoneda embedding preserves finite products. For $A,B,X\in \mathcal{C}$, the Yoneda lemma and the exponential object adjunction giveThe bijections are natural in $X$, soThus the essential image of $\mathcal{C}$ in its presheaf topos is full and closed under finite products and exponentials.

If a small finite-product category $\mathcal{C}$ splits idempotents, the tiny objects of its presheaf topos are exactly the representable presheaves. Exponentiation by $yA$ is precomposition with $-\times A$ and therefore has a right adjoint given by Right Kan extension. Conversely, if $P$ is tiny, then $\mathrm{Nat}(P,-)$ preserves all colimits; idempotent completeness makes every such presheaf representable.