We will introduce the surface magneto-optic Kerr effect (SMOKE), which is one of the most helpful experimental methods in the area of surface magnetism for the last two decades. The basic magnetic characteristics of magnetic thin film is the most essential part for the further understanding and application. For example, the possibility of the realization of ferromagnetism for a single layer of iron, its Curie temperature far below that of bulk iron, and the direction of easy axis are the fundamental questions for the spintronic application. SMOKE is an efficient method to answer for the questions above.