In the past two decades, research in VLSI physical design has been directed towards automation of layout process. Circuit layout techniques are developed with an aim to produce layouts with a small area. In this book there are 14 articles dealing with various stages of the VLSI layout problem written by leading experts in the field. Topics include partitioning, floorplanning. placement, global routing, detailed routing and layout verification. Some chapters are review articles, giving the state of-the art of the problems related to timing driven placement, global and detailed routing, and circuit partitioning Others are research articles, giving recent findings of or new approaches to the above mentioned problems. It will serve as a good reference for both researchers and professionals who work in this field.