The paper presents the use of Holographic Interferometry and Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry for the measurement of dynamic surface displacements. A concise theoretical background of the optical phenomena on which the two techniques are based is given. Analysis of holographic and speckle fringe patterns due to dynamic displacements is introduced as a generalisation of the case of fringe patterns due to static displacements. Experimental results obtained on a turbine blade, an aluminium panel and a microsatellite sandwich structure are reported. (C) 2000 Academic Press.