Real and virtual Compton scattering off the nucleon

A review is given of the very recent developments in the fields of real and virtual Compton scattering off the nucleon. Both real and virtual Compton scattering reactions are discussed at low outgoing photon energy where one accesses polarizabilities of the nucleon. The real Compton scattering at la rge momentum transfer is discussed which is asymptotically a tool to obtain information on the valence quark wave function of the nucleon. The rapid d evelopments in deeply virtual Compton scattering and associated meson elect roproduction reactions at high energy, high photon virtuality and small mom entum transfer to the nucleon are discussed. A unified theoretical descript ion of those processes has emerged over the last few years, which gives acc ess to new, generalized parton distributions. The experimental status and p erspectives in these fields are also discussed.