The article reviews recent theoretical and experimental advances in the field of electrochemical nucleation and growth. Experimental data for simultaneously determined 'number of nuclei-time' and 'current-time' relationships obtained during the electrochemical deposition of silver on a glassy carbon working electrode are analysed in terms of the theoretical models accounting for the spread of exclusion zones around growing stable clusters. Information is obtained on the applicability of the theoretical formulae for the number N(t) of nuclei and for the current i(t) of progressive nucleation. Possible reasons for the registered disagreement between theory and experiment are discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.