  I discuss the construction of realistic superstring standard--like models in
the four dimensional free fermionic formulation. I discuss proton lifetime
constraints on superstring models. I discuss the massless spectrum of the
superstring standard--like models, the texture of fermion mass matrices in
these models and argue that the realistic features of these models are due to
the underlying $Z_2\times Z_2$ orbifold compactification. (talk presented at
the TEXAS\\PASCHOS conference, Berkeley CA, December 13--18 1992)
