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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SYNOPSYS, INC.
 
     The audits referred to in our report dated October 18, 1996, included the
related financial statement schedule for each of the years in the three-year
period ended September 30, 1996, included in the registration statement. The
financial statement schedule is the responsibility of Synopsys' management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statement schedule
based on our audits. In our opinion, the financial statement schedule, when
considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a
whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth
therein.
 
     We consent to the use of our reports included herein and to the reference
to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.
 
                                          KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
 
Palo Alto, California
February 4, 1997