A novel technique termed nonredundant array scanning holography based on the principle of optical heterodyne scanning holography and the tomographic technique of coded aperture imaging is proposed. The system designed in terms of this technique codes an object optically and decodes its coded image digitally. It can realize optical tomograms of three-dimensional objects. It also has potentially practical value due to its compact structure. The computer simulations present the principle of the technique. Some experiments at the proof-principle level are performed to test the principle.