ABSTRACTA recently proposed, new approach to the problem of native defect formation in compound semiconductors is presented. The approach is based on the concept of amphoteric native defects. It is shown that the defect formation energy as well as structure and properties of simple native defects depend on the location of the Fermi level with respect to an internal energy reference: the Fermi level stabilization energy. The known location of the stabilization energy determines the electronic part of the defect formation energy and allows for a quantitative description of a variety of phenomena including: the formation of defects at metal-semiconductor interfaces, doping induced superlattice intermixing and limitations of free carrier concentrations in semiconductors.