This review focuses on the combination of elemental detection techniques with liquidphase microextraction (LPME), namely, single drop microextraction, hollow fiber based liquid-phase microextraction, dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction, and related techniques. General features of different microextraction procedures, historical overview and automation of LPME are described and compared, along with examples of new developments and applications presented to demonstrate its potential for trace and ultra-trace metal analysis. Furthermore, potential applications and an outlook on the combination of LPME and elemental detection techniques for inorganic analysis are presented.