  Dark matter particles populating our galactic halo could be directly detected
by measuring their scattering off target nuclei or electrons in a suitable
detector. As this interaction is expected to occur with very low probability
and would generate very small energy deposits, the detection is challenging;
the possible identification of distinctive signatures (like an annual
modulation in the interaction rates or directionality) to assign a dark matter
origin to a possible observation is being considered. Here, the physics case of
different dark matter direct detection experiments will be presented and the
different and complementary techniques which are being applied or considered
will be discussed, summarizing their features and latest results obtained.
Special focus will be made on TPC-related projects; experiments using noble
liquids have presently a leading role to constrain interaction cross sections
of a wide range of dark matter candidates and gaseous detectors are very
promising to explore specifically low mass dark matter as well as to measure
directionality.
