In category theory it is often said that certain operations are defined "pointwise". For example, limits in a functor category $[\mathcal{C},\mathcal{D}]$ can be defined "pointwise" (if $\mathcal{D}$ has these limits). Similarly, if $\mathcal{D}$ carries a monoidal structure, we can define a monoidal structure on $[\mathcal{C},\mathcal{D}]$ "pointwise". By this one actually means "objectwise". It refers to the objects of $\mathcal{C}$, which are usually not called points, even less in specific examples of categories. So why does one still use this terminology "pointwise"? And what do you think of using "objectwise" in a paper instead, will the reader still immediately understand the meaning? And don't we need a terminology which can be used without quotation marks? Is there one which is established in this context? Which one do you recommend?



"Pointwise" defintions in category theory
As Peter said in a comment, "objectwise" is quite common and would probably be understood even without quotation marks, although it never hurts to define a term the first time you use it. I expect the reason that some people use "pointwise" is by analogy to functions between sets: the pointwise sum of $f,g:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ is $(f+g)(x)=f(x)+g(x)$, so the "pointwise tensor product" of $F,G:\mathcal{C}\to\mathcal{V}$ is $(F\otimes G)(C) = F(C) \otimes G(C)$.


