Small-angle x-ray and neutron scattering are powerful analytical tools for investigating long-range fluctuations in electron (x-rays) or magnetic moment (neutrons) densities in materials. In recent years they have yielded valuable information about voids, void size distributions, and swelling in aluminum, aluminum alloys, copper, molybdenum, nickel, nickel-aluminum, niobium and niobium alloys, stainless steels, graphite and silicon carbide. In the case of aluminum, information concerning the shape of the voids and the ratio of specific surface energies was obtained. The technique of small-angle scattering and its application to the study of voids is reviewed in the paper. Emphasis is placed on the conditions which limit the applicability of the technique, on the interpretation of the data, and on a comparison of the results obtained with companion techniques such as transmission electron microscopy and bulk density. 8 figures, 41 references.