Analytical microextractions, defined as nonexhaustive sample preparation with a very small volume of extracting phase (microliter range or smaller) relative to the sample volume, represent an important development in the field of analytical chemistry. Analytes are extracted by a small volume of a solid or semi-solid polymeric material, as in solid-phase microextraction (SPME), or alternatively by a small volume of a liquid, as in liquid-phase microextraction (LPME). This paper gives an overview of the SPME and LPME techniques and discusses future trends. This includes a discussion of the different extraction formats available, commercial equipment, method transfer from traditional sample preparation methods to microextraction, and performance as well as robustness for the latter type of systems. In addition, the paper contains a unified approach to the understanding of extraction thermodynamics and kinetics applicable to both SPME and LPME.