New developments in x‐ray scattering are resulting from the use of synchrotron radiation sources, allowing study of anomalous scattering regimes with high energy resolution and polarized light.Smatrix calculations of elastic scattering are in good agreement away from edges, while dispersion relations can be used to predict edge region scattering if a sufficiently broad and precise photoabsorption data base is available. A new S matrix calculation of inelastic scattering indicates there are substantial regimes in which the p&drarr;⋅A&drarr; as well as the usual’A2’term will have to be taken into account, and many circumstances in which the p&drarr;⋅A&drarr; term will dominate.