Application of the methods of the dilational surface rheology to adsorbed and spread layers of nano- and microparticles at liquid – fluid interfaces gives insight in the structure and formation mechanism of the layers. This is especially important in view of the limited applicability of standard experimental methods of the interface science to heterogeneous surface layers. The literature in this field almost has doubled for the last few years and recent articles are discussed in this review. All the systems are divided into two groups of the layers of solid and soft particles depending on the influence of the particle deformability on surface properties. In the latter case the peculiarities of surface dilational rheological properties of adsorbed and spread layers of polylelctrolyte/surfactant aggregates, solid particles grafted by polymers, polymer microgels, and protein fibrils and microgelsare briefly discussed together with the merits and drawbacks of the existing experimental methods of the surface dilational theology.