The bifunctional character of carbamates not only predetermines the reactions occurring with amides or esters of carboxylic acids, but also their specific chemical properties. Carbamates are suitable protecting groups in the synthesis of amines and peptides. The review gives the most important structure characteristics of carbamates, and also deals with their ionization and thermolysis. Examples of typical nucleophilic and electrophilic reactions of carbamates as well as of their use in organic synthesis are given, both published in the last decade.