High-Energy Tests of the Standard Model and Beyond

Over the past decade, particle physics experiments carried out at high-energy machines, like the CERN LEP collider, have performed very precise tests of the predictions of the Standard Model, the theory which describes the interactions between elementary particles. The goals and strategy of these precise measurements and the major achievements are discussed. Then, the present status of the searches for the Higgs boson and for new particles predicted by theories beyond the Standard Model is discussed briefly. Prospects at future machines are also mentioned.