This paper introduces and surveys the theory of Malcev presentations. [Malcev presentations are a species of presentation that can be used to define any semigroup that can be embedded into a group.] In particular, various classes of groups and monoids all of whose finitely generated subsemigroups admit finite Malcev presentations are described; closure and containment results are stated; links with the theory of automatic semigroups are mentioned; and various questions asked. Many of the results stated herein are summarized in tabular form.