Typical interatomic distances in metals and alloys are reviewed. Metallic, atomic and covalent radii are compared and a linear dependence between the interatomic distance and the mean metallic radii is shown. Much more information about the short-range atomic arrangement, and a deeper insight into the geometry within a structure type, is obtained by looking at the coordination polyhedra (atomic environments) instead of looking only at the interatomic distances. The 23 most frequently occurring atomic environment types are illustrated.