Abstract

We review the experimental evidence for Einstein’s general relativity. A variety of high-precision null experiments confirm the Einstein equivalence principle, which underlies the concept that gravitation is synonymous with spacetime geometry and must be described by a metric theory. Solar system experiments that test the weak-field, post-Newtonian limit of metric theories strongly favor general relativity. Binary pulsars test gravitational-wave damping and aspects of strong-field general relativity. The 2015 detection of gravitational waves by the laser interferometric gravitational-wave observatory LIGO provides new tests of the theory in the strong-field, radiative regime. Future efforts using electromagnetic and gravitational-wave astronomy will provide additional tests.