Dielectric-barrier discharges (DBDs), also known as silent discharges, have been utilized on a large industrial scale for over a century. These discharges combine the advantages of non-equilibrium plasma properties with the ease of atmospheric-pressure operation, making them highly scalable from small laboratory reactors to large industrial installations with megawatt input powers. Efficient and cost-effective all-solid-state power supplies are available, with preferred operating frequencies between 1 kHz and 10 MHz and pressures between 10 kPa and 500 kPa. Industrial applications include ozone generation, pollution control, surface treatment, high-power CO2 lasers, ultraviolet excimer lamps, mercury-free fluorescent lamps, and flat large-area plasma displays. The discharge can exhibit either a pronounced filamentary structure or a fairly diffuse appearance, depending on the application and operating conditions. The history of DBDs dates back to 1857 when Siemens first reported experimental investigations focusing on ozone generation. The term "silent discharge" was introduced in 1860 by Andrews and Tait. Over the decades, researchers such as Emil Warburg, Becker, and Otto made significant contributions to understanding and industrializing DBDs. K. Buss's work in the early 20th century characterized the discharge by identifying it as occurring in a large number of tiny short-lived current filaments. T. C. Manley's method for determining dissipated power in DBDs in 1943 further advanced the field. Ozone generation remained the primary industrial application of DBDs until recently, with thousands of installed ozone generating facilities used mainly in water treatment. Despite their historical focus on ozone generation, DBDs have evolved to serve a broader range of industrial needs.Dielectric-barrier discharges (DBDs), also known as silent discharges, have been utilized on a large industrial scale for over a century. These discharges combine the advantages of non-equilibrium plasma properties with the ease of atmospheric-pressure operation, making them highly scalable from small laboratory reactors to large industrial installations with megawatt input powers. Efficient and cost-effective all-solid-state power supplies are available, with preferred operating frequencies between 1 kHz and 10 MHz and pressures between 10 kPa and 500 kPa. Industrial applications include ozone generation, pollution control, surface treatment, high-power CO2 lasers, ultraviolet excimer lamps, mercury-free fluorescent lamps, and flat large-area plasma displays. The discharge can exhibit either a pronounced filamentary structure or a fairly diffuse appearance, depending on the application and operating conditions. The history of DBDs dates back to 1857 when Siemens first reported experimental investigations focusing on ozone generation. The term "silent discharge" was introduced in 1860 by Andrews and Tait. Over the decades, researchers such as Emil Warburg, Becker, and Otto made significant contributions to understanding and industrializing DBDs. K. Buss's work in the early 20th century characterized the discharge by identifying it as occurring in a large number of tiny short-lived current filaments. T. C. Manley's method for determining dissipated power in DBDs in 1943 further advanced the field. Ozone generation remained the primary industrial application of DBDs until recently, with thousands of installed ozone generating facilities used mainly in water treatment. Despite their historical focus on ozone generation, DBDs have evolved to serve a broader range of industrial needs.