Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 April 2016
This paper reviews observations on the evolution of magnetic fields and flows in active regions which produce major flares. It includes the following topics: (1) Relationship between magnetic shear and flares; (2) Relationship between electric currents and flares; (3) Flows in active regions, particularly the emergence of new flux inside sheared penumbrae, and the mixed magnetic polarity nature of this kind of flux emergence; and (4) Changes of magnetic structure immediately before and after major solar flares; in particular, I will describe some recent findings that shear may increase after major flares.