The literature review is devoted to the history of the development of endoscopic surgery of the lumbar spine: from open surgical interventions and puncture procedures – to percutaneous intracanal endoscopic operations, combining interventional and video endoscopic technologies and referred to in the English literature as “full-endoscopy”. The article also touches upon the historical aspects of fibroendoscopic and laparoscopic interventions on the lumbar spine. In conclusion, the principle of classification of endoscopic techniques is proposed.