Fourier transform mass spectrometry will play an important role in the future because of its unique combination of high mass resolution, high upper mass limit, and multichannel advantage. These features have already found application in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, multiphoton ionization, laser desorption, and secondary ion mass spectrometry. However, its most notable feature is the ability to store ions. This characteristic, when combined with the others, will allow expeditious study of the interaction of gas-phase ions with both photons (photodissociation) and neutral molecules, and the convenient application of this fundamental information for chemical analysis.