The Journal of Optics is a peer-reviewed scientific journal covering all aspects of modern and classical optics, experimental and theoretical studies, applications and instrumentation.

The editor-in-chief is Andrew Forbes (University of the Witwatersrand).

Publication was suspended during the First World War and only resumed in 1921, when the name was shortened to Revue d'Optique.

Due to the Second World War, publication was again suspended in 1944, but resumed in 1947.

After another suspension in 1968, the journal re-appeared in 1970 as the Nouvelle Revue d'Optique Appliquée.