  We review several key aspects of charm phenomenology which are important for
the general program of determination of matrix elements of the
Cabbibo-Kobayashi-Maskava (CKM) matrix. We argue that charm physics plays an
important role in reducing uncertainties in non-perturbative QCD parameters
whose values are required for understanding of underlying quark-level
processes. We also review the current status of searches for new physics in
mixing and CP violation in charmed mesons both at the currently operating and
proposed facilities.
