This feature of Applied Optics contains 16 papers on the design, fabrication, analysis, and applications of diffractive optics. Most of the papers originated from the first Optical Society of America topical meeting on diffractive optics that was held 13-15 April 1992 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The next diffractive optics topical meeting is scheduled to be held 5-9 June 1994 in Rochester, New York.