The most common differential pulse techniques are analyzed and their responses are compared. Depending on whether or not the initial conditions are re-established before the application of each double pulse we distinguish between double pulse and multipulse differential techniques. The nomenclature employed in the literature is clarified to avoid future confusion. The differences and similarities between the double pulse and multipulse responses are studied for electrode processes of any degree of reversibility, analysing the advantages and disadvantages of each method. The effect of the electrode size is also discussed, establishing the conditions under which the voltammograms obtained by different techniques are coincident or not. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.