The chapters of this Handbook volume cover nine main topics that are representative of recent theoretical and algorithmic developments in the field. In addition to the nine papers that present the state of the art, there is an article on the early history of the field.

The handbook will be a useful reference to experts in the field as well as students and others who want to learn about discrete optimization.

This volume contains the papers selected for presentation at IPCO VIII, the Eighth Conference on Integer Programming and Combinatorial Optimization, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 2001. This meeting isa forum for researchers and practitioners working on various aspects of integer programming and combi- torial optimization. The aim is to present recent developments in theory, com- tation, and application of integer programming and combinatorial optimization. Topics include, but are not limited to: approximation algorithms, branch and bound algorithms, computational biology, computational...