The branch of optical science known as “Fourier optics” originated in the 1940s through the 1960s with the application of communication theory and circuit design analysis techniques to optical diffraction theory. In 1968, Joseph W. Goodman published Introduction to Fourier Optics, a seminal textbook that consolidated fundamental concepts and applications, establishing Fourier optics as a significant and enduring discipline. Today, Fourier optics is applied to the analysis of diffraction and imaging, as well as specialized fields such as optical information processing, wavefront control, optical computing, and holography.