Plain X-ray or radiography is an imaging technique that utilizes ionizing radiation caught on a wave sensitive plate to image the human body, especially the skeleton.

Plain X-ray is analogous to standard photography in that a wave source is used to create an image on a sensitive plate. The body part to be evaluated is exposed to a directional beam of low-level ionizing radiation, positioned over an exposure plate. The plate is then developed chemically or electronically to produce an image.

X-ray is useful for imaging the skeleton, but is also used for imaging some soft tissues with the addition of contrast. X-ray is commonly used to evaluate for bony fractures, alignment problems, abnormal motion, and degenerative disease. It is also used for post-op evaluation of surgical hardware and fusion mass.