The present state of the art of superconducting bolometers is analyzed. The author considers the general principles and distinctive features of the design of bolometers as radiation detectors as well as sensitive elements for the detection of molecular beams and phonons. Bolometers have a threshold sensitivity in the range 10** minus **9 to 3 multiplied by (times) 10** minus **1**5 w multiplied by (times) Hz** minus ** one-half and a time constant within the limits 10** minus **2 to 10** minus **1**0 sec.