  In this review, novel non-standard techniques for the computation of
cohomology classes on toric varieties are summarized. After an introduction of
the basic definitions and properties of toric geometry, we discuss a specific
computational algorithm for the determination of the dimension of line-bundle
valued cohomology groups on toric varieties. Applications to the computation of
chiral massless matter spectra in string compactifications are discussed and,
using the software package cohomCalg, its utility is highlighted on a new
target space dual pair of (0,2) heterotic string models.
