We give the analytical fundamental dark soliton solutions of the (2+1)‐dimensional nonlinear Schrodinger equation [(2+1)‐D NSE]. The solutions reduce to (1+1)‐D dark soliton solutions when the width of soliton in one transverse direction is much wider than that in the other direction, which is in good agreement with the experimental observation of the dark spatial solitons. ©1995 American Institute of Physics.