The modification of microwave signals passing through an electron cloud can be used as a diagnostic tool for detecting its presence and as a measure for its effective density. This observation method was demonstrated in pioneering measurements at the CERN SPS in 2003 with protons and at PEP-II in 2006 with positron beams in the particle accelerator field. Results and applications of this technique are discussed as well as limitations and possible difficulties. A strong enhancement of the electron related signals due to cyclotron resonance is theoretically predicted and has been observed in different machines. The application of this method can also be extended for space applications and plasma physics where microwave diagnostics is known and used since many years. The question whether suitably chosen microwaves might also be employed for electron-cloud suppression will be addressed. An electron cloud may also emit microwaves itself and the intensity of this emission depends on external parameters such as the electrical bias field and resonator frequencies related to trapped mode resonances in a beam-pipe
