This book introduces some of the key ideas of this exciting field, using a pedagogic approach, and presents a comprehensive overview of the field. It is divided into four parts. The first part introduces the basic concepts of microwave cavities for particle acceleration. The second part is devoted to the observed behaviour of superconducting cavities. In the third part,general issues connected with beam-cavity interaction and the related issues for the critical components are covered. The final part discusses applications of superconducting cavities to frontier accelerators of the future, drawing heavily on the examples that are in their most advanced stage. Each part of the book ends in a Problems section to illustrate and amplify text material as well as draw on example applications of superconducting cavities to existing and future accelerators.