The term "Fourier" often refers to Jean-Baptiste Joseph Fourier, a French mathematician and physicist known for his work in heat transfer and vibrations. He introduced the concept of representing functions as sums of sine and cosine waves, known as Fourier series. This approach allows complex periodic functions to be analyzed in simpler terms. Fourier's ideas laid the groundwork for various fields, including signal processing, acoustics, and image analysis. The Fourier transform is a mathematical technique derived from his work, enabling the conversion of signals between time and frequency domains, which is essential in modern technology and engineering applications.