Prior art is a crucial concept in intellectual property law, referring to existing knowledge or documents that relate to an invention before its patent application. While "prior art" is commonly used, there are alternative terms that mean the same thing. "State of the art" is often employed to describe existing knowledge or technology that serves as a reference point for evaluating patentability. Moreover, "prior knowledge" and "pre-existing information" are synonymous with prior art, denoting previously available data or ideas. Additionally, "background art" or "prior disclosures" may be used in patent discussions to refer to existing materials in the field that contribute to the understanding of the invention. These synonyms help capture the essence of the rich body of existing knowledge that is considered when assessing the novelty and inventiveness of an invention.