Historical Overview

They are named after George Boole, an English mathematician at University College Cork, who first defined them as part of a system of logic in the mid 19th century. Specifically, Boolean algebra was an attempt to use algebraic techniques to deal with expressions in the propositional calculus. Today, Boolean algebras find many applications in electronic design. For many reasons digital systems are based on an algebra--not the regular algebra you and I are familiar with but rather Boolean algebra. Boolean algebra is the theoretical foundation for digital systems.
As the inventor of Boolean algebra, the basis of all modern computer arithmetic, Boole is regarded as one of the founders of the field of computer science. Boolean algebra formalizes the rules of logic. On the surface computers are great number crunchers, but inside computations are performed by binary digital circuits following the rules of logic. That is why it is important to understand the Boolean expressions.