The Karnaugh Map

The Karnaugh map, known as a Veitch diagram (KV-map or K-map for short), is a method to simplify Boolean algebra expressions. The Karnaugh map reduces the need for extensive calculations by taking advantage of humans' pattern-recognition capability, permitting the rapid identification and elimination of potential race hazards.

In a Karnaugh map the boolean variables are transferred (generally from a truth table) and ordered according to the principles of Gray code in which only one variable changes in between squares. Once the table is generated and the output possibilities are transcribed, the data is arranged into the largest possible groups containing 2ⁿ cells (n=0,1,2,3...)^[1] and the minterm is generated through the axiom laws of boolean algebra.