The various procedures used in wood identification are reviewed. A computer program (IDENT4, prepared by L. Morse) adapted especially for wood identification is described and discussed, with reference to the work of an IAWA committee seeking a standard list of characters suitable for computerized hardwood identification. Computerized identification offers a data base that can readily search for that difficult sample, unidentifiable by standard techniques, or unknown in origin, or where dichotomous key data do not confirm structure. The most difficult task is gathering and organizing data into a standard format. -- AATA