Аннотация:In this brief review, we consider the potentialities inherent to the method of the axisymmetric droplet shape analysis to probe the surface properties of different materials. We show that the implementation of an experiment for the determination of test droplet shape parameters in saturated vapor conditions at long-range contact with liquid provides an opportunity to obtain unique information about surface properties of different materials, both instant and their evolution with time of contact between the liquid and the substrate. The examples presented show that for many systems the above approach offers a unique possibility to estimate the parameters of the three-phase equilibrium, the wetting regime and its changes in physicochemical processes, and the pattern and kinetics of chemical reactions on the surface.