²¹⁰Pb is an environmental radionuclide with a half-life of 22.3 years, formed in the atmosphere via radioactive decay of radon (²²²Rn). ²²²Rn itself is a noble gas with a half-life of 3.8 days and is formed via radioactive decay of uranium (²³⁸U) contained in the Earth crust from where it constantly emanates into the atmosphere. ²¹⁰Pb atoms attach to aerosol particles, which are then deposited on glaciers via scavenging with fresh snow. Due to its half-life, ice cores can be dated with this radionuclide over roughly one century, depending on the initial ²¹⁰Pb activity concentration. Optimum ²¹⁰Pb dating is achieved for cold glaciers with no - or little - influence by percolating meltwater. This paper presents an overview which not only includes dating of cold glaciers but also some special cases of ²¹⁰Pb applications in glaciology addressing temperate glaciers, glaciers with negative mass balance, sublimation processes on glaciers in arid regions, determination of annual net snow accumulation as well as glacier flow rates.