  Glass is highly sensitive to surface flaws generated by contact. Surface
cracks threaten both its mechanical strength and visual aspect. Recent trends
in glass functionalisation by grafting or coating lend an even more prominent
role to the surface. For these reasons, the glass surface mechanics, which
couples surface physico-chemistry with mechanical response, must be considered
in details to optimize glass processing and products. We review a few recent
advances in the field of glass surface mechanics, with special emphasis on the
local ductility of silicate glasses and the mechanical stability of films and
coatings.
