A process that involves the use of nonlinear optical effects to precisely reverse the direction of propagation of each plane wave in an arbitrary beam of light, thereby causing the return beam to exactly retrace the path of the incident beam. The process is also known as wavefront reversal or time-reversal reflection. The unique features of this phenomenon suggest widespread application to the problems of optical beam transport through distorting or inhomogeneous media. Although closely related, the field of adaptive optics will not be discussed here.