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# Every square matrix is similar to one in Jordan form.

Put content here**Theorem:** Every square matrix over $\mathbb{C}$ is similar to a matrix in **Jordan canonical form**.
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That is, for any $A \in \mathbb{C}^{n \times n}$, there exists an invertible matrix $P$ such that:
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$$P^{-1}AP = J$$
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where $J$ is a block diagonal matrix composed of Jordan blocks:
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$$J = \begin{pmatrix} J_1 & & \\ & \ddots & \\ & & J_k \end{pmatrix}$$
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Each Jordan block $J_i$ corresponds to one eigenvalue $\lambda$ and has $\lambda$ on the diagonal, 1 on the superdiagonal, and 0 elsewhere.
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**Significance:** The Jordan form is the closest any matrix can get to being diagonal. A matrix is diagonalizable if and only if all Jordan blocks have size 1.
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The Jordan form is unique up to the ordering of the blocks.

# Parents

* Similarity of matrices