Fourier Transform Reference

Continuous and discrete Fourier transform definitions, properties, and common pairs.

Reference Reference Updated Apr 19, 2026
Reference

Definitions

CTFT
X(f) = ∫ x(t) · e^{−j2πft} dt
DTFT
X(e^{jω}) = Σ x[n] · e^{−jωn}
DFT
X[k] = Σ_{n=0}^{N−1} x[n] · e^{−j2πkn/N}
IDFT
x[n] = (1/N) Σ_{k=0}^{N−1} X[k] · e^{j2πkn/N}
FFT
O(N log N) algorithm for computing the DFT

Properties

Property x(t) ↔ X(f)
Linearity a·x + b·y ↔ a·X + b·Y
Time shift x(t − t₀) ↔ X(f) · e^{−j2πf t₀}
Frequency shift x(t) · e^{j2πf₀t} ↔ X(f − f₀)
Time scaling x(a·t) ↔ (1/|a|) X(f/a)
Convolution ↔ product x ⊛ y ↔ X · Y
Product ↔ convolution x · y ↔ X ⊛ Y
Parseval (energy) ∫|x(t)|² dt = ∫|X(f)|² df
Duality x(t) ↔ X(f) implies X(t) ↔ x(−f)

Common pairs

x(t) X(f)
δ(t) (impulse) 1
1 δ(f)
cos(2πf₀t) (δ(f − f₀) + δ(f + f₀)) / 2
rect(t) sinc(f)
sinc(t) rect(f)
e^{−at}u(t) (a > 0) 1 / (a + j2πf)
e^{−πt²} e^{−πf²}
u(t) (step) 1 / (j2πf) + ½δ(f)

Last updated: