Physics with muon and hadron beams at COMPASS

COMPASS is a multi-purpose fixed target experiment at CERN's Super Proton Synchrotron, dedicated to the study of the structure of the nucleon and the spectroscopy of hadrons. The large acceptance and high resolution two stage spectrometer takes advantage of the availability of a variety of high intensity beams (muons and hadrons) with momenta up to 300 GeV/c. During the years 2002-2004 and 2006-2007 high statistics data for inclusive and semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering were collected using polarized 160 GeV/c muons on (LiD)-Li-6 and NH3 targets. These measurements have produced a wealth of results on the spin structure of the nucleon, both in the longitudinal and in the transverse nucleon spin configuration. Since 2008, COMPASS has focused on the search for exotic hadronic states in central production or diffractive projectile excitation of 190 GeV hadrons on a liquid hydrogen target. Masses up to about 2.5 GeV/c(2) are accessible. An overview on the results obtained so far and a short summary of the future plans of the collaboration will be given.