The problem of metrization of topological spaces has had an enormous influence on the development of general topology. Singling out the basic topo logical components of metrizability has determined the main reference points in the construction of the classification of topological spaces. These are (pri marily) paracompactness, collectionwise normality, monotonic normality and perfect normality, the concepts of a stratifiable space, Moore space and u space, point-countable base, and uniform base. The method of covers has taken up a leading role in this classification. Of paramount significance...