The effects of corrective feedback on second language(L2)development have recently been investigated extensively from the interactionist perspective. This paper attempts to review the literature on corrective feedback in general and recasts in particular and to deduce some implications for L2 pedagogy from the research, which indicates that types and characteristics of feedback, measures for L2 development, leaner responses to feedback, leaner L2 proficiency levels and instructional contexts, among others, have variable roles to play in determining how useful a particular type of feedback may be for L2 development.