Innovations in crystallographic instrumentation and the rapid development of methods of diffraction measurement have led to a vast improvement in our ability to determine crystal and molecular structure. This up-to-date resource will allow the reader to harness the potential of X-ray diffraction instruments. Different sources of X-radiation used in crystallography are introduced, including synchrotron radiation, as well as a systematic review of detectors for X-rays and basic instruments for single crystal and powder diffractometry. The principles of the diffraction experiment are discussed...