The contrast seen in MR images between different tissue types is mainly because different tissues have different relaxation properties. The large amount of de-phasing provided by the phase encode gradient essentially removes all the low frequency components within the signal and the read gradient captures only the high frequency components of the excited slice. All images as seen in MR are a result of a two-dimensional Fourier transform of the raw data that is obtained from the RF receiver. The inherent advantage of FSE is its speed compared to a conventional spin-echo sequence. Single shot FSE sequences are used routinely for cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) where they have proven to be an excellent alternative for ERCP and also in diffusion-weighted imaging where the goal is to create diffusion anisotropy maps or perform fiber tractography. Single-shot imaging is useful when temporal resolution is important since the scan time for a slice is little more than the read-out time. When using conventional sequences, the TR is generally much longer than the T2 of the tissues being imaged. Improvement in gradient coil technology has produced coils with higher and higher peak gradients while at the same time reducing the rise times. These gradients are also capable of performing at high duty cycles with excellent eddy current compensation. Other forms of steady state imaging that make clever use of steady state sequences for a desired contrast are also available. One could prepare the longitudinal magnetization such that the magnetization has a T1 or a T2 history prior to rapidly imaging the magnetization. Burst imaging is another novel technique derived from the behavior of steady state pulse sequences. While significant progress has been made in the area of pulse sequence design more innovations are expected especially with the advent of new techniques such as simultaneous acquisition of spatial harmonics (SMASH) and sensitivity encoding (SENSE). Steady-state imaging techniques can greatly benefit from parallel imaging.