The development of optical emission spectroscopy (OES) is reviewed, especially with respect to the analysis of solid metals. Sampling and sample preparation is discussed. New developments in the design of gas filled vacuum region spectrometers and high speed time-resolved spark measuring systems (SAFT) are presented. This has allowed the determination of nitrogen in steels and hydrogen and oxygen in non-ferrous metals. Remarkably high precision and sensitivity is achieved by using SAFT. Various applications are reviewed.