Book excerpt: Combinatorial and high-throughput experimental approaches and related informatics, modeling and data-mining methods have permitted researchers to accelerate the pace at which new, complex materials and device systems are discovered, optimized and understood. Today, the development and application of these revolutionary approaches continue to grow and diversify. This book offers an international, interdisciplinary perspective for scientists and engineers interested in combinatorial, high-throughput and advanced informatics approaches to materials research. The range of disciplines includes materials science; chemistry; physics; electrical, chemical and mechanical engineering; materials modeling; and data systems engineering. Presentations share successful studies, and illuminate current and emerging challenges in areas including: the design and fabrication of combinatorial libraries for materials and devices; high-throughput characterization methods for such systems; automation of instrumentation and data analysis; advanced modeling and data mining techniques for rapid materials design and properties prediction; and data system design and software for combinatorial workflows.