This paper gives a review of mid-infrared laser heterodyne systems. The advantages of using heterodyne detection are described and the different techniques corresponding to the choice of the local oscillator are presented. A thorough discussion of the gas laser heterodyne systems is followed by the presentation of tunable diode laser systems capabilities. Many experiments in the mid-infrared region are reviewed covering the astronomical and atmospheric, ground-based and airborne investigations as well as the laboratory measurements.