There are 5 different beamlines in the materials science hard x-ray scattering program at SSRL.  These are numbered as BL1-5, BL2-1, BL7-2, BL10-2, and BL11-3.  Each beamline is best suited to a different experimental technique.  This article is meant as a short introduction to the different beamlines with more detailed articles specific to each beamline and technique to follow.