Digital speech coding is used in a wide variety of every day applications that the ordinary person takes for granted, such as network wireline and cellular telephony and telephone answering machines. This article reviews some of the most currently used methods of speech coding. This includes reviewing the basic attributes of these coders, the methods used for coding and some of the most important speech coding standards. It also reviews the methods used to realize digital speech coders, especially those for implementing these coders in a cost effective manner.