Lasers are used increasingly for specialized engineering applications such as drilling, profile cutting, welding and surface heat-treatment(hardening, alloying, annealing0 of metals and non-metals. The most important characteristics of lasers used for these materials-processing applications are reviewed, with special emphasis on the importance of the controlled heating process. In addition to these processes, some optical devices and supplementary equipment used in laser processing are introduced. Finally, some examples shows the wide variety of laser capability for substitution of traditional materials processing.