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The dual is the sheaf of modules whose sections on $U$ are module-sheaf morphisms $\mathcal{F}{|}_U\to {\mathcal{O}}_U$. For a locally free sheaf of finite rank, the dual is locally free of the same rank and the natural double-dual map is an isomorphism. General coherent sheaves need not have this property: a skyscraper at a point of positive-dimensional projective space has zero ordinary sheaf dual.

A free sheaf of finite rank on a scheme is a sheaf of modules globally isomorphic to ${\mathcal{O}}_X^{\oplus r}$. A locally free sheaf only requires such an isomorphism on an open cover; its local frames need not glue to one global frame.

A global section of a sheaf of modules $\mathcal{F}$ is an element of $\Gamma (X,\mathcal{F})$, meaning a section defined over the whole space $X$.

A quasi-coherent sheaf is a sheaf of modules which locally has a presentation by free module sheaves:where the index sets may be infinite. Equivalently, on affine neighbourhoods it is an affine module sheaf. A coherent sheaf is locally finitely generated, with the additional requirement that the kernel of every map from a finite free module sheaf is locally finitely generated. On a Noetherian scheme, these conditions are equivalent to being locally associated with a finitely generated module.

For an affine variety $X$ with coordinate ring $A$ and an $A$-module $M$, setRestriction on principal open subsets is the natural module localization map. On an arbitrary open subset, sections are families of these stalk values locally represented by a single fraction from a localization. This constructs the affine module sheaf; its global sections are $M$. Choose a free-module presentation $A^{(J)}\to A^{(I)}\to M\to 0$. Exactness of localization and its compatibility with direct sums yieldThus $\tilde{M}$ is a quasi-coherent sheaf, without a finite-generation assumption.

We now prove coherence of an affine module sheaf. If $M$ is finitely generated, take a surjection $A^r\to M$. Since $A$ is a Noetherian ring, its kernel is finitely generated, so $M$ has a finite presentation of a module. More generally, on every principal affine open, the kernel of a map $A_a^s\to M_a$ is a submodule of a finite free module over the Noetherian ring $A_a$, and is finitely generated. On sheafifying, this verifies both parts of the definition of a coherent sheaf.

Conversely, if $\tilde{M}$ is coherent, choose a finite principal-open cover $X={\bigcup }_{i}D(a_i)$ on which it has finitely many generators. Write those local generators as $m_{ij}/a_i^{r_{ij}}$. Their numerators generate a finite submodule $N={\sum }_{i,j}A{m}_{ij}$ of $M$, and $N_{a_i}=M_{a_i}$ for every $i$. To check that $M/N=0$, let $q\in M/N$. Each equality after localization gives an exponent $r_i$ such that $a_i^{r_i}q=0$. The ideal generated by the $a_i^{r_i}$ is the unit ideal: otherwise a maximal ideal containing all of them would give a point outside the principal-open cover. A linear combination of these powers equal to $1$ consequently annihilates $q$. Every $q$ is zero, proving

Next consider a morphism $\varphi :{\mathcal{G}}_1\to {\mathcal{G}}_2$ between quasi-coherent sheaves. On an affine open $V$ of the target variety, use the assumed affine module-sheaf equivalence to write ${\mathcal{G}}_j{|}_V=\widetilde{M_j}$, with $M_j=\Gamma (V,{\mathcal{G}}_j)$. The sheaf morphism is the sheafification of the module map $\psi =\Gamma (V,\varphi )$. Indeed, its action on a section $m/a^r$ of a principal open is forced by module-linearity and restriction to be $\psi (m)/a^r$. Therefore exactness of localization givesThese identities are compatible with restriction, so $(\ker \varphi ){|}_V=\widetilde{\ker \psi }$. Since this holds on an affine cover, the kernel sheaf is quasi-coherent on every variety. This proof of kernels of quasi-coherent sheaf morphisms does not assert that taking global sections is right exact.

For direct image along a morphism of affine varieties, write $Y$ with coordinate ring $A$, $X$ with coordinate ring $B$, and let $\alpha :A\to B$ be the induced ring homomorphism. If $\mathcal{F}=\tilde{M}$ on $X$, regard $M$ as an $A$-module by restriction of scalars. For $a\in A$,The last equality identifies localization with the scalar action of $a$. It identifies the direct image sheaf with the affine module sheaf of the restricted module, so $f_{\ast }\mathcal{F}$ is quasi-coherent.

Suppose $Y$ is affine and $X={\bigcup }_{i=1}^r{U}_i$ is a finite affine cover. Since a variety is separated, every $U_i\cap U_j$ is affine: it is identified with the inverse image of the closed diagonal morphism inside the affine product $U_i{\times }_k{U}_j$. Write $g_i=f{|}_{U_i}$ and $g_{ij}=f{|}_{U_i\cap U_j}$. Form the morphism of sheaves of modulesBoth sums are finite, and every summand is quasi-coherent by the affine calculation. For every open $V\subseteq Y$, the sheaf gluing axiom on $f^{-1}(V)$ identifies the kernel of this map on sections with $\mathcal{F}(f^{-1}(V))$. HenceThe kernel result proved above establishes quasi-coherence.

Finally, for arbitrary $Y$, take an affine neighbourhood $V\subseteq Y$ and apply the preceding argument to $f^{-1}(V)\to V$. The open subset $f^{-1}(V)$ is again a variety and has a finite affine cover, because varieties have Noetherian Zariski topology. The restriction of $f_{\ast }\mathcal{F}$ to $V$ is exactly the direct image for this restricted morphism. ThusThe finiteness and separation conditions are the relevant hypotheses, not affineness of the original source or target. More generally, quasi-coherence of direct image under a quasi-compact quasi-separated morphism is valid. If one permits nonseparated finite-type prevarieties, each overlap in the argument has a finite affine cover; replacing its summand by the sum of direct images from these charts gives the same kernel, since agreement can be tested on a cover. This also proves the assertion in that convention. It does not extend by this argument to arbitrary spaces with an unrestricted infinite cover.

A sheaf of modules $\mathcal{F}$ over ${\mathcal{O}}_X$ is quasi-coherent when locally it admits a presentationwith arbitrary indexing sets $I,J$. On an affine chart, sheafifying the corresponding module presentation and using exactness of localization identifies its cokernel with a sheaf $\tilde{N}$. Thus one may equivalently require that locally on affine charts $\mathcal{F}$ is associated with a module. This does not impose finite generation, which belongs to the stronger coherent condition.

On the affine variety $X$ with coordinate ring $A$, put $M=\Gamma (X,\mathcal{F})$. Refine local module charts to a finite principal open cover $X={\bigcup }_{j}D(g_j)$ such that $\mathcal{F}{|}_{D(g_j)}\cong {\tilde{N}}_j$ for an $A_{g_j}$-module $N_j$. This is possible because principal opens form an open basis and $X$ is quasi-compact. On the overlap $D(g_j{g}_k)$ the sections are the corresponding further localization of $N_j$ or $N_k$. The sheaf gluing axiom gives an equalizerwhere the last map is the difference of restrictions. For any $f\in A$, localize this sequence. Exactness of localization and commutation with finite products give exactly the equalizer for the cover $D(f)={\bigcup }_{j}D(f{g}_j)$. HenceThe isomorphisms are canonical and commute with all basic-open restrictions. Since the sections of $\tilde{M}$ on these opens are $M_f$, they identify the two sheaves:Conversely $\tilde{M}$ is quasi-coherent for every $A$-module $M$, since a free presentation of $M$ gives the required sheaf presentation. Also $\Gamma (X,\tilde{M})=M$, and module homomorphisms sheafify, while a sheaf morphism is determined on every $D(f)$ by the localization of its map on global sections. This proves the affine module-sheaf equivalence.

For a short exact sequence of quasi-coherent sheaves, the sequence of their stalks is exact. Under this equivalence the stalk at $x$ is the localization of the global-section module at ${\mathfrak{m}}_x$. Exactness of module sequences can be checked at all maximal ideals, by localization detects zero elements applied to their homology, so the global-section modules also form a short exact sequence. Therefore global sections are exact on quasi-coherent sheaves over an affine variety. This is stronger than the left exactness of the global section functor on arbitrary sheaves, and follows from localization, not from assuming the cohomology vanishing still to be proved.

For an open inclusion $j:U\hookrightarrow X$, the requested sheaf isRestriction gives $\mathcal{F}\to {}_U\mathcal{F}$. This direct image from an open restriction is not extension by zero: its stalks outside $U$ may be nonzero.

The locally vanishing principle for sheaf cohomology says that a class $\xi \in H^i(X,\mathcal{F})$, $i>0$, is killed on a suitable neighbourhood of every point. Under the stated hypothesis that basis opens and their finite intersections have zero cohomology in degrees $1,\dots ,i-1$, these neighbourhoods can be chosen in that basis so that the image of $\xi$ underis zero. In particular its restriction in $H^i(U,\mathcal{F}{|}_U)$ is zero. This is a statement about individual classes; it does not assert that every locally vanishing class is already globally zero.

Here is a noncircular proof of vanishing of quasi-coherent cohomology on an affine scheme, applied to the variety. Induct on $i>0$, simultaneously for every affine variety and quasi-coherent sheaf. Assume all lower positive degrees vanish. The principal-open basis is closed under finite intersections, so it satisfies the principle's hypothesis. Given $\xi \in H^i(X,\mathcal{F})$, choose a finite principal cover $\mathcal{U}=(D(f_j))$ on which it restricts to zero.

Applying the Čech cochain complex to a flasque resolution gives the Čech lifting below the first possible local cohomology degree comparison segment, under lower-degree vanishing on all intersectionsFor completeness, the double complex has terms ${\check{C}}^p(\mathcal{U},{\mathcal{I}}^q)$. Its augmented rows are exact because each ${\mathcal{I}}^q$ is flasque, so its total cohomology is the cohomology of global sections of the resolution. The vertical cohomology on intersections in degrees $0<q<i$ is zero. Equivalently, start with local primitives of a cocycle representing $\xi$, take their differences on pairwise overlaps, and solve successively for primitives of those differences in degrees $i-1,i-2,\dots ,1$. The last difference is a Čech $i$-cocycle with values in $\mathcal{F}$. This identifies the kernel of the restriction map with the displayed Čech group. No vanishing in degree $i$ on the intersections has been assumed.

It remains a module calculation. Write $\mathcal{F}=\tilde{M}$. The augmented Čech complex isSince the $D(f_j)$ cover $X$, the $f_j$ generate the unit ideal. This complex is exact. To see it algebraically, use alternating cochains, with repeated indices giving zero. For a cocycle $c$, choose $N$ large enough to clear every $f_j$-denominator in $f_j^N{c}_{jI}$, as well as the finitely many cocycle relations; vanishing criterion in a module localization allows a further power to clear relations which initially hold only after localization. Since the ideal $(f_j^N)$ is still the unit ideal, choose $a_j$ with ${\sum }_j{a}_j{f}_j^N=1$. Defineusing those cleared representatives in $M_{f_I}$. The cocycle identity gives $\delta b=({\sum }_j{a}_j{f}_j^N)c=c$. The same argument with the augmentation gives gluing and uniqueness in degree zero. This is exactness of the unit-ideal localization Čech complex.

Thus ${\check{H}}^i(\mathcal{U},\mathcal{F})=0$, so the class $\xi$, whose restrictions were zero, is zero. The induction starts at $i=1$, when the lower-degree condition is empty. We have proved

First form the inverse image sheaf ${\varphi }^{-1}\mathcal{H}$ by applying sheafification toIt is a sheaf of modules over ${\varphi }^{-1}{\mathcal{O}}_Y$. The morphism of ringed spaces gives a ring map ${\varphi }^{-1}{\mathcal{O}}_Y\to {\mathcal{O}}_X$, so the pullback of a sheaf of modules isAt $x\in X$, writing $y=\varphi (x)$, its stalk is ${\mathcal{O}}_{X,x}{\otimes }_{{\mathcal{O}}_{Y,y}}{\mathcal{H}}_y$. The tensor construction makes the action of the structure sheaf explicit; taking the inverse image alone would not give the requested ${\mathcal{O}}_X$-module.

The direct image sheaf is defined on an open set $V\subseteq Y$ byRestrictions are those of $\mathcal{F}$, and the sheaf gluing axiom follows by taking inverse images of an open cover. The morphism of ringed spaces supplies ${\varphi }^{\#}:{\mathcal{O}}_Y\to {\varphi }_{\ast }{\mathcal{O}}_X$. Thus $a\in {\mathcal{O}}_Y(V)$ acts on $s\in \mathcal{F}({\varphi }^{-1}V)$ by ${\varphi }^{\#}(a)s$, making ${\varphi }_{\ast }\mathcal{F}$ a sheaf of modules over ${\mathcal{O}}_Y$. This definition uses no quasi-coherence.

The tensor product of sheaves is the sheafification of the presheafwith restriction maps induced by those of $\mathcal{F}$, $\mathcal{G}$, and the structure sheaf of a scheme. Sending the germ of $f\otimes g$ to $f_P\otimes g_P$ gives a canonical mapIt is surjective because a finite sum of tensors of germs has representatives on one common neighborhood. It is injective because an equality in a tensor product of modules is witnessed by finitely many additive and balancing relations; all their germs, including the scalars in ${\mathcal{O}}_{X,P}$, can be represented and their equalities made valid on a common smaller neighborhood. Equivalently, a filtered colimit of modules commutes with these tensor products. Since sheafification preserves the stalk of a sheaf, this proves the asserted isomorphism.

For the pullback of a sheaf of modules, first form the inverse image sheaf ${\varphi }^{-1}\mathcal{F}$: sheafify $U\mapsto {\mathrm{colim}}_{V\supseteq \varphi (U)}\mathcal{F}(V)$. The morphism of sheaves of rings ${\varphi }^{-1}{\mathcal{O}}_Y\to {\mathcal{O}}_X$ then definesExactness of a sequence of sheaf of modules morphisms is checked on every stalk of a sheaf. Applying the right exactness of the tensor product of modules to the stalk sequence over ${\mathcal{O}}_{Y,\varphi (P)}$ gives the exact stalk sequence of the pullbacks. Thus ${\varphi }^{\ast }$ preserves sequences ending in zero, as required.

A quasi-coherent sheaf is a sheaf of modules locally of the form $\tilde{N}$ for a module $N$ over the coordinate ring of an affine neighborhood. On an affine variety $V$ with ring $B$, this associated sheaf is characterized on principal opens by $\tilde{N}(D(b))=N_b$, using localization of a module. Suppose $\mathcal{F}{|}_V\cong \tilde{N}$ and $U\subseteq {\varphi }^{-1}V$ is affine, with ring $C$. The induced algebra map $B\to C$ gives a canonical mapAt a point $P\in U$, both sides identify with ${\mathcal{O}}_{X,P}{\otimes }_{B}N$: on the right use ${\mathcal{F}}_{\varphi (P)}\cong {\mathcal{O}}_{Y,\varphi (P)}{\otimes }_{B}N$ and associativity of the tensor product of modules. The map is therefore an isomorphism on every stalk of a sheaf, hence an isomorphism of sheaves. Such $U$ cover $X$, proving that the pullback is a quasi-coherent sheaf.

Finally, on an affine open $V\subseteq Y$ with ring $B$, the presheaf defining $M_Y$ has, on $D(b)\subseteq V$, the valueConsequently $M_Y{|}_V\cong \widetilde{M{\otimes }_{R}B}$, so $M_Y$ is a quasi-coherent sheaf. The algebra map for $M_X$ is the composite $R\to \Gamma (Y,{\mathcal{O}}_Y)\to \Gamma (X,{\mathcal{O}}_X)$. Restriction of functions and the tensor-product construction give a canonical sheaf morphism ${\varphi }^{\ast }{M}_Y\to M_X$. At $P$, it is the associativity isomorphismIt is therefore a sheaf of modules isomorphism. In particular,