This chapter summarizes the optical properties of X-ray binaries, with special emphasis on the class of low mass X-ray binaries and soft X-ray transients. The latter provide the most compelling evidence for the existence of black holes in the Universe, with nine well-established dynamical studies. We review the techniques employed to extract the component masses and discuss the importance of systematic effects. Despite the growing number of black hole cases, the uncertainties involved are still too large to draw statistical conclusions on the mass distribution of collapsed objects. We also present new observational techniques which may help to improve the mass determinations and set constraints on the theory of supernovae and black hole formation.