  Dielectric laser accelerators (DLAs) use the nearfields created when a laser
pulse impinges on a dielectric structure to accelerate charged particles. We
provide an overview of the theory of operation of photon driven accelerators,
from photons interacting with charged particles in a vacuum, to the advantages
gained by introducing dielectric structures, with a discussion of their
advantages and limitations. Furthermore we show the state of the art of the
current development of dielectric laser accelerators, including acceleration,
focusing, deflection, beam position monitoring, and advanced topics from the
generation of microbunches to the adaptation of alternating phase focusing,
allowing for the next to lossless transport of the charged particles over long
distances.
