The Fourier series can be used to represent any periodic signal using a summation of sines and cosines of different frequencies and amplitudes. Since sines and cosines are periodic, they must form another periodic signal. Thus, the Fourier series is period in nature. The Fourier series is expanded then, to the complex plane, and can be applied to non-periodic signals. This gave rise to the Fourier transform, which represents a signal in the frequency-domain. See links.