In 1997 Thomas Zink introduced displays, objects that live in the realm of (semi-) linear algebra in order to give a new classification of p-divisible formal groups over rings which are p-adically separated and complete. Later Zink extended this theory to study not necessarily connected p-divisible groups over complete local rings whose residue field is perfect of characteristc p. In recent work, Eike Lau has extended Zink's results and introduced new techniques into the theory of displays. I will begin by reviewing Zink's theory and then explain Lau's important progress, concluding with more recent developments.