Pullback of a covariant tensor (${\varphi }^{\ast }\omega (V_1,\dots ,V_s)=\omega (d\varphi V_1,\dots ,d\varphi V_s)$)

The pullback of a covariant tensor composes each of its vector arguments with the differential of a smooth map. It takes a type $(0,s)$ tensor on the target to one on the source. Antisymmetry is not required; the pullback of a differential form is the alternating special case. If the target vectors are projected onto the image tangent space first, evaluating the pullback is unchanged.

The pullback of a covector is the dual linear map to the differential of a smooth map. In coordinates its components are $({\varphi }^{\ast }\eta {)}_i=({\partial }_i{y}^{\alpha }){\eta }_{\alpha }$. The same rectangular Jacobian defines vector pushforward, with its other index contracted. No invertibility is needed.