ABSTRACTThe features of ferroelectric materials and their applications are presented. State-of-the-art employment of characterization techniques, and the properties of ferroelectric materials are described. Classification of ferroelectric materials, phase transitions, and diffuse phase transition (DPT) have been discussed. Properties of ferroelectrics, polarization-field hysteresis, dielectric hysteresis, reversal of spontaneous polarization, and dielectric properties have been explained. Besides these, piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties of materials have also been demonstrated. The applications of ferroelectric thin films have been discussed with a specific focus on acousto-optic (AO) properties and their applications.