Thermal spray (TS) coatings frequently offer the best solution to a wide variety of design, function, esthetic, maintenance, and repair problems related to surfaces.  The intent of this presentation is to position of TS coatings in the wide spectrum of surface engineering and serve as a background for comparison with physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, and electrodeposition coatings discussed in the balance of the presentations in this session.  A brief introduction to the various TS processes (including plasma spray, detonation gun, high velocity oxy-fuel, and cold spray) including both their advantages and disadvantages will be followed by a general description of the TS coating microstructures and their properties, and finally focus on the wide variety of applications of TS coatings.