Book excerpt: This is a comprehensive description of the theoretical foundations and experimental applications of spectroscopic methods in plasma physics research. It introduces the classical and quantum theory of radiation, with detailed descriptions of line strengths and high density effects, and describes theoretical and experimental aspects of spectral line broadening. The book illustrates the concepts of continuous spectra, level kinetics and cross sections, thermodynamic equilibrium relations, radiative energy transfer, and radiative energy losses. The basics of plasma spectroscopy to density and temperature measurements and to the determination of some other plasma properties are also explored. Over one thousand references not only guide the reader to original research covered in the chapters, but also to experimental details and instrumentation.