1. Introduction.- 1.1. Near-Field Optics and Photonics.- 1.1.1. Optical Processes and Electromagnetic Interactions.- 1.2. Ultra-High-Resolution Near-Field Optical Microscopy (NOM).- 1.2.1. From Interference- to Interaction-Type Optical Microscopy.- 1.2.2. Development of Near-Field Optical Microscopy and Related Techniques.- 1.3. General Features of Optical Near-Field Problems.- 1.3.1. Optical Processes and the Scale of Interest.- 1.3.2. Effective...