Fourier transform

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

Fourier transform

   <mathematics> A technique for expressing a waveform as a
   weighted sum of sines and cosines.

   Computers generally rely on the version known as {discrete
   Fourier transform}.

   Named after J. B. Joseph Fourier (1768 -- 1830).

   See also {wavelet}, {discrete cosine transform}.

   (1997-03-9)