A Karnaugh map (KM or K-map) is a diagram that can be used to simplify a Boolean algebra expression. Maurice Karnaugh introduced the technique in 1953 as a refinement of Edward W. Veitch's 1952 Veitch chart, which itself was a rediscovery of Allan Marquand's 1881 logical diagram or Marquand diagram. They are also known as Marquand–Veitch diagrams, Karnaugh–Veitch (KV) maps, and (rarely) Svoboda charts. An early advance in the history of formal logic methodology, Karnaugh maps remain relevant in the digital age, especially in the fields of logical circuit design and digital engineering.