Prior Art

(1) In a broad sense, technology that is relevant to an invention and was publicly available (e.g. described in a publication or offered for sale) before the relevant priority date,

(2) in a narrow sense, any such technology which would invalidate a patent or limit its scope. The process of determining whether the claimed invention is new and involves an inventive step (i.e. is not obvious) for the purposes of search and examination largely consists of identifying relevant prior art and distinguishing the claimed invention from that of prior art.

Synonym of "State of the Art."