Electrical resistivity of the soil can be considered as a proxy for the spatial and temporal variability of many other soil
physical properties (i.e. structure, water content, or fluid composition). Because the method is non-destructive and very sensitive,
it offers a very attractive tool for describing the subsurface properties without digging. It has been already applied in various
contexts like: groundwater exploration, landfill and solute transfer delineation, agronomical management by identifying areas of
excessive compaction or soil horizon thickness and bedrock depth, and at least assessing the soil hydrological properties. The
surveys, depending on the areas heterogeneities can be performed in one-, two- or three-dimensions and also at different scales
resolution from the centimetric scale to the regional scale. In this review, based on many electrical resistivity surveys, we expose
the theory and the basic principles of the method, we overview the variation of electrical resistivity as a function of soil
properties, we listed the main electrical device to performed one-, two- or three-dimensional surveys, and explain the basic
principles of the data interpretation. At least, we discuss the main advantages and limits of the method.