Electron bean dynamics / Generalities on the synchrotron radiation / Undulator radiation / Bending magnet and wiggler radiation / Technology of insertion devices / Polarizing undulators and wigglers / Exotic insertion devices / Free electron lasers / Impact of insertion devices on macromolecular crystallography / Medical applications - intravenous coronary angiography as an example / Polarization modulation spectroscopy by polarizing undulator / Solid state physics / X-ray crystal optics / Metrological applications