Résumé
This paper aims at giving an insight into the field of non-destructive methods for localizing and quantifying electric charges and field distribution in dielectrics. The fundamentals of the influence (or "stimuli") methods used for measuring space charge and polarization distributions in solid insulating structures are first presented. The possibilities offered today by these methods and their fallouts in the domains of dielectric materials, electrical engineering and electronics structures are then put into evidence using various supporting examples. Experimental set-ups and results obtained in recent years are reviewed, and perspectives of evolution of these methods are discussed. Challenges and expected achievements in the near future are brought into focus.