Code division multiple access is a technique that allows the simultaneous transmission and reception of data over a shared channel. It is mostly associated with wireless cellular communication, but engineers from the optical fields are casting hungry glances its way. Rao and Dianat (both electrical engineering and imaging science, Rochester Institute of Technology) provide a succinct tutorial treatment of it for readers who have an undergraduate degree in electrical or optical engineering, emphasizing the concepts. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR