Optical Cross-Connects (OXCs) and Optical Add-Drop Multiplexers (OADMs) are the key network elements in wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) networks for the broadband Internet era. The basics of design, operation and performance of optical switching systems, such as OXCs and OADMs, is the main scope of this course. The survivability, flexibility, and economic tradeoffs in WDM networks deploying OXCs and OADMs will be discussed in detail.