In the Yājñavalkya Smṛti, Nyāya is mentioned as one of the fourteen principal branches of learning. The Matsya-Purāṇa states that knowledge of Nyāya came from the mouth of Brahmā. The Mahābhārata also mentions principles of Nyāya. 
The earliest text of the Nyāya School is the  of Akṣapāda Gautama|. The text is divided into five books, each having two sections. Vātsāyana|s  is a classic commentary on the . Udyotakaras  (6th century CE) is written to defend  against the attacks made by Dignāga. Vacaspati Misra|s   (9th century CE) is the next major exposition of this school. Two other texts,  and  are also attributed to him. Udayanas (984 CE)  is an important commentary on s treatise. His  is the first systematic account of theistic . His other works include ,  and . Jayanta Bhattas  (10th century CE) is basically an independent work. s   (10th century CE) is a survey of ' philosophy.
The later works on  accepted the Vaisheshika| categories and s  (12th century CE) is a notable treatise of this syncretist school. s  (13th century CE) is another important work of this school.
s  (14th century CE) is the first major treatise of the new school of . His son, s , though a commentary on Udayanas , incorporated his fathers views. Jayadeva wrote a commentary on Tattvacintāmaṇi| known as  (14th century CE). s   (16th century CE) is first great work of Navadvipa school of  . Raghunatha Siromani|s  and  are the next important works of this school. Visvanatha Panchanana Bhattacharya|s   (17th century CE) is also a notable work. The Commentaries on ' by Jagadish Tarkalankar (17th century CE) and Gadadhar Bhattacharya (17th century CE) are the last two notable works of this school.
Annambhatta| (17th century CE) tried to develop a consistent system by combining the ancient and the new schools,  and  and  to develop the  school. His  and  are the popular manuals of this school.