These two volumes consist of chapters, each of which is dedicated to a specific topic and is written by a leading expert. Many chapters present historical background; some present previously unpublished results, whereas some present the first expository account of a topic; many discuss future directions as well as open problems. The overall intent of this handbook is to offer the interested reader an exposition of our current state of knowledge as well as an implicit blueprint for future research. This handbook should be especially useful for students wishing to obtain an overview of K-theory and for mathematicians interested in pursuing challenges in this rapidly expanding field.