  Maximally supersymmetric theories do not allow off-shell superspace
formulations with traditional superfields containing a finite set of auxiliary
fields. It has become clear that off-shell supersymmetric action formulations
of such models can be achieved by the introduction of pure spinors. In this
talk, an overview of this formalism is given, with emphasis on D=10
super-Yang-Mills theory and D=11 supergravity. This a somewhat expanded version
of a talk presented at the workshop "Breaking of supersymmetry and ultraviolet
divergences in extended supergravity" (BUDS), Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati,
March 25-28, 2013.
