ABSTRACT. Diffusion at a grain boundary occurs at a different rate from that in the bulk crystalline lattice. Usually bulk lattice diffusion is relatively slow and boundary diffusion is much more rapid so that the boundary acts as an easy (or short circuit) path for transport in parallel with bulk diffusion.The experimental approaches to direct measurement of tracer diffusion along grain boundaries are well-established and, in principle, can give the grain boundary diffusion coefficient and the grain boundary width (or, in the case of an impurity atom, the product of boundary width and the segregation coefficient).Published data cover a range of materials in doped and undoped forms, and specimen types (single crystals, bicrystals, sintered powders and thin films), with host atoms or impurities as the diffusing species. In addition, atomistic simulations have been carried out using static lattice methods to help interpret the experimental observations. There is much disagreement in the detailed results in this field, but certain general conclusions are emerging.