In linear algebra, a Toeplitz matrix or diagonal-constant matrix, named after Otto Toeplitz, is a matrix in which each descending diagonal from left to right is constant. For instance, the following matrix is a Toeplitz matrix:

${\displaystyle \qquad {\begin{bmatrix}a&b&c&d&e\\f&a&b&c&d\\g&f&a&b&c\\h&g&f&a&b\\i&h&g&f&a\end{bmatrix}}.}$

Any ${\displaystyle n\times n}$ matrix ${\displaystyle A}$ of the form

${\displaystyle A={\begin{bmatrix}a_{0}&a_{-1}&a_{-2}&\cdots &\cdots &a_{-(n-1)}\\a_{1}&a_{0}&a_{-1}&\ddots &&\vdots \\a_{2}&a_{1}&\ddots &\ddots &\ddots &\vdots \\\vdots &\ddots &\ddots &\ddots &a_{-1}&a_{-2}\\\vdots &&\ddots &a_{1}&a_{0}&a_{-1}\\a_{n-1}&\cdots &\cdots &a_{2}&a_{1}&a_{0}\end{bmatrix}}}$

is a Toeplitz matrix. If the ${\displaystyle i,j}$ element of ${\displaystyle A}$ is denoted ${\displaystyle A_{i,j}}$ then we have

${\displaystyle A_{i,j}=A_{i+1,j+1}=a_{i-j}.}$

A Toeplitz matrix is not necessarily square.