Bars in the Local Universe: An Observational Perspective

I discuss our current understanding of the presence, size, and structure of bars in the local (z ~ 0) universe. In particular, I show how the frequency of bars in spiral galaxies is a strong function of stellar mass, peaking at a mass of ~ 109.7, and how failure to properly account for resolution effects can lead to strong biases in bar estimates. Bar size is a (bimodal) function of stellar mass, and an even stronger function of disk scale length. Boxy/peanut-shaped (BP) bulges -- the inner, vertically thickened parts of some bars -- are also a strong (and simple) function of stellar mass: they are universal at the high-mass end, but absent in the bars of low-mass galaxies. I also discuss new research on the radial structure of bars and sizes and abundances of the inner bars of double-barred galaxies