Esophageal motor function remains of investigative and clinical interest because of its relevance to symptoms and its relation to the occurrence and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Refinement in diagnostic methods continues to occur, and improved tests for identifying the nature or severity of motor disturbances in both the proximal and distal esophageal regions are now well described. Controversy concerning the management of achalasia, the best-understood distal motor disorder, is resolving as the benefits and disadvantages of available treatment options are becoming recognized. The relation of esophageal motor dysfunction to outcomes from antireflux surgery remains incompletely understood.