We shall review the various methods, which are currently in use or planned for the characterization of the structure and dynamics of nanostructured materials. These include X-ray microscopy, microdiffraction. imaging and X-ray scattering. Examples will be presented of nanostructured systems of interest where such studies are being used to study the effects of nanoconfinement in one. two and three dimensions. These include magnetic films, magnetic dots, quantum wells, nanowires, etc.