This timely book addresses all end-users of the technology, including non-scientists, at a time when photonics are becoming increasingly important in many areas. The very well known and reputable researchers and experts in the field adopt an intuitive approach by explaining the potential of the laser and its many applications in the fields of medicine and surgery, telecommunications, data communication and storage, ultrafast lasers, scanner, pointers, imaging, lithography and metrology, materials processing and machining, astronomy, etc.<br />A dedicated webpage run by the authors includes links to new inventions, laser companies, and quizzes for self-testing.<br />