This volume, authored by leading scientists, reviews our knowledge of tidal streams in the Milky Way, Andromeda, and nearby galaxies. It discusses the cosmological origins of dwarf galaxies and the processes by which they are tidally disrupted into streams that merge with galaxy halos. Techniques for identifying tidal streams are presented, offering valuable insights for researchers aiming to discover substructures in upcoming optical sky surveys like Pan-STARRS and LSST. The book also explains methods under development to analyze the large-scale distribution of dark matter in the Milky Way, as well as the small-scale variations within it. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of future spectroscopic surveys of Milky Way halo stars, which will enhance the identification of tidal streams and improve our understanding of dark matter properties. Targeted at graduate students entering this research area, the volume serves as a resource for researchers studying tidal streams and related topics. It not only details the physical processes behind tidal stream formation but also reviews current observational data and the advancements in using these observations to constrain dark matter distribution in the Milky Way, making it an informative introduction for those with an astrophysics background.
