This paper contains a short and simplified proof of desingularization over fields of characteristic zero, together with various applications to other problems in algebraic geometry (among others, the study of the behavior of desingularization of families of embedded schemes, and a formulation of desingularization which is stronger than Hironaka's). Our proof avoids the use of the Hilbert-Samuel function and Hironaka's notion of normal flatness: First we define a procedure for principalization of ideals (i. e. a procedure to make an ideal invertible), and then we show that desingularization of a closed subscheme X is achieved by using the procedure of principalization for the ideal I(X) associated to the embedded scheme X. The paper intends to be an introduction to the subject, focused on the motivation of ideas used in this new approach, and particularly on applications, some of which do not follow from Hironaka's proof.Part 3. Applications. 21 7. Weak and strict transforms of ideals: Strong Factorizing Desingularization. 21 8. On a class of regular schemes and on real and complex analytic spaces. 31 9. Non-embedded desingularization. 34 10. Equiresolution. Families of schemes. 37 11. Bodnár-Schicho's computer implementation. 43Example 3.3. If X ⊂ W is a hypersurface and J is its defining ideal, then Sing(J, b) is the set of points of X where the multiplicity is greater than or equal to b.Example 3.4. If J ⊂ O W is an arbitrary non-zero sheaf of ideals, then Sing(J, b) is the set of points of W where the order of J is greater than or equal to b.for the pair (W, E) and Y ⊂ Sing(J, b). 3.6. Permissible transformations of basic objects. Let (W, (J, b), E = {H 1 , . . . , H r }) be a basic object and let Y ⊂ Sing(J, b) be a permissible center. Consider W ←− W 1 the monoidal transformation with center Y . This induces a transformation of pairs,(3.6.1)as the permissible transformation of the basic object (W, (J, b), E).Remark 3.7. In general, given a sequence of transformations of basic objects (3.7.1)at centers Y i ⊂ Sing(J i , b), i = 0, 1, . . . k − 1, we obtain expressionsNote here that c r+1 = . . . = c r+i = b if none of the centers Y i are included in any of the exceptional divisors H j .Definition 3.8. A finite sequence transformation of basic objects as (3.7.1) is a resolution of (W 0 ,Remark 3.9. Note that:(1) If sequence (3.7.1) is a resolution of the basic object (W 0 ,where M k is an invertible sheaf of ideals, and J k has no points of order ≥ b in W k . (2) The ideal J k is not the strict transform of J 0 , an ideal which is far more complicated to define (see Section 7 for a discussion on this matter). However it is so in some particular cases. In fact, if X 0 ⊂ W 0 is a closed smooth subscheme, and J 0 = I(X), then Sing(J 0 , 1) = X, and given any sequence of transformations of basic objects