Small $x$ physics in deep inelastic lepton scattering

The perturbative QCD predictions concerning deep inelastic scattering at low $x$ are summarized. The theoretical framework based on the leading log $1/x$ resummation and $k_t$ factorization theorem is described. The role of studying final states in deep inelastic scattering for revealing the details of the underlying dynamics at low $x$ is emphasised and some dedicated measurements, like deep inelastic scattering accompanied by an energetic jet, the measurement of the transverse energy flow and deep inelastic diffraction, are briefly discussed.