In field theory, a primitive element of a finite field GF(q) is a generator of the multiplicative group of the field. For example 2 is a primitive element of the field GF(3) and GF(5), but not of GF(7) since it generates the cyclic subgroup of order 3 {2,4,1}; however, 3 is a primitive element of GF(7). The minimal polynomial of a primitive element is a primitive polynomial.