The review summarizes basic information about slow and fast chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence induction kinetics (FIK) recorded using fluorimeters working on a principle of the pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) of a Chl fluorescence signal. It explains fundamental principles of the measuring technique, evaluates the terminology, symbols, and parameters used. Analysis of Chl FIK resulting in a set of Chl fluorescence parameters (FPs) provides qualitative and quantitative information about photosynthetic processes in chloroplasts. Using FPs, one can describe the functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus under different internal and external conditions. Brief comments on proper application of the fluorimetric method in photosynthesis research and some actual examples are also given. and K, Roháček, M. Barták.