A numerical approach to the computation of the field scattering by nonlinear bounded dielectric objects is proposed, which is based on the finite-difference time-domain method. A simple numerical scheme is developed to compute the field scattering by isotropic dielectrics whose permittivities exhibit a specific dependence on the electric field. A preliminary example concerning a Kerr-like nonlinearly is discussed. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.