An overview of the theoretical and experimental aspects of the recently-discovered superconducting compounds is presented. This overview is divided into three sections. In the first section a review of some of the theoretical and computational works is presented under the subsections entitled pairing mechanisms, electronic structure calculations and thermophysical properties. In the second section surface and interface chemistry issues related to the fabrication and use of high-temperature superconductors for high-performance applications are presented. Specific issues that are discussed include metallization and the formation of stable ohmic contacts, and chemically-stable overlayers that are suitable for passivation, protection and encapsulation of superconducting material structures that can then be used under a wide range of environmental conditions. Lastly, issues are discussed that are related to each of the bulk high-temperature superconducting ceramic oxides which have received so much attention the past two years. These include Tl 2 Ba 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O 10 with a critical temperature of 125 K, which is the current record.