This document discusses the principles and techniques of interferometry and optical flatness testing. It begins with an introduction to interferometry, describing how it uses the principle of superposition of waves to produce interference patterns. It then discusses the interference of light waves in detail, including the conditions required and how constructive and destructive interference produce light and dark bands. The document focuses on using optical flats and interferometry to evaluate the flatness of surfaces. It describes how optical flats are used and evaluated, and how an interferometer like the NPL flatness interferometer can be used to precisely measure flatness and detect deviations in both flatness and parallelism of surfaces.