We survey functional analytic methods for studying subwavelength resonator
systems. In particular, rigorous discrete approximations of Helmholtz scattering
problems are derived in an asymptotic subwavelength regime. This is achieved by
reframing the Helmholtz equation as a nonlinear eigenvalue problem in terms of
integral operators. In the subwavelength limit, resonant states are described
by the eigenstates of the generalised capacitance matrix, which appears by
perturbing the elements of the kernel of the limiting operator. Using this
formulation, we are able to describe subwavelength resonances and related
phenomena. In particular, we demonstrate large-scale effective parameters
with exotic values. We also show that these systems can exhibit localised and
guided waves on very small length scales. Using the concept of topologically
protected edge modes, such localisation can be made robust against structural
imperfections.