A computer-implemented method is disclosed for layout pattern or layout constraint reuse by identifying sub-circuits with identical or similar schematic structure based on a topology comparison strategy. The selected sub-circuit is transformed into a topology representing the relative positions among the instances of the selected sub-circuit. Based on the topology, one or more sub-circuits with identical or similar topologies in a predefined scope of a schematic are recognized and identified. Accordingly, the layout or the layout constraint of the selected sub-circuit is copied and associated to each of the identified sub-circuits. Furthermore, once the sub-circuits are identified, they can be listed on a user interface with notations to allow users to confirm each of the identified sub-circuits respectively.