This paper gives a bibliographical review of the finite element methods applied to the analysis and simulation of coatings, their mechanical and material properties from the theoretical and application points of view. The surface modification technologies in the context of coatings are also included. The added bibliography at the end of this paper contains 1032 references to papers and conference proceedings on the subject that were published in 1995–2005. The following topics are included: coating property simulations; surface modification process simulations and practical coating applications.