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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 April 2016
This review discusses the observations and theoretical models of interstellar shock waves in diffuse and molecular clouds. After summarizing the relevant gas dynamics, atomic, molecular and grain processes, and physics of radiative and magnetic precursors, I describe observational diagnostics of shocks. I conclude with a discussion of two new topics: unstable or non-steady shocks and thermal conduction in metal-rich shocks.