. This paper begins with an introduction to additive and multiplicative Schwarz methods. A two-level method is then reviewed and a new result on its rate of convergence is established for the case when the overlap is small. Recent results by Xuejun Zhang, on multi-level Schwarz methods, are formulated and discussed. The paper is concluded with a discussion of recent joint results with Xiao-Chuan Cai on nonsymmetric and indefinite problems. Key Words. domain decomposition, Schwarz methods, finite elements, nonsymmetric and indefinite elliptic problems AMS(MOS) subject classifications. 65F10, 65N30 1. Introduction. Over the last few years, a general theory has been developed for the study of additive and multiplicative Schwarz methods. Many domain decomposition and certain multigrid methods can now be successfully analyzed inside this framework. Early work by P.-L. Lions [23], [24] gave an important impetus to this effort. The additive Schwarz methods were then developed by Dryja and ...