This paper is a short review of the present situation and recent advances in dynamic fracture and failure. More precisely, two main research areas are discussed: Dynamic Fracture Mechanics and Dynamic Failure Mechanics. After brief characterization of the Dynamic Fracture Mechanics, a well developed research area, a more detailed discussion of the Dynamic Failure Mechanics is offered. Although in the past some research efforts can be spotted in the literature describing failure of materials during impact or explosions there is a lack of systematic characterization of this area. The main subject in this contribution is a discussion how dynamic plasticity coupled with temperature effects intervenes in failure by adiabatic heating. Some examples of failure by adiabatic shear band formation, including some new failure criteria, are discussed
