Observations of Stellar Winds

The different methods for the study of stellar winds are discussed: (1) P Cygni profiles (2) atomic emission lines (3) infrared and radio free-free emission (4) molecular emission lines (5) infrared radiation by dust. For each of these methods we describe some characteristic observations and we discuss the way in which these data can be used to derive the mass loss rate and the velocity distribution of the wind. We discuss these from the basic physical point of view in order to obtain an understanding of the basic physical processes involved. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.