The non‐covalent forces involved in bioadhesion involving flat surfaces, small particles, cells and bio‐polymers are: Lifshitz‐van der Waals (LW), polar (electron‐acceptor‐electron‐donor) or Lewis acid‐base (AB) and electrostatic (EL) forces. LW and AB forces are determined by: (a) direct contact angle measurement with at least three liquids on flat surfaces, or (b) wicking, by capillary rise measurements of at least three liquids along glass plates coated with a thin layer of small particles. This approach yields the LW and AB components of the surface tension, as well as the electron‐acceptor and the electron donor parameters of its AB‐component. Together, these yield the total apolar + polar interfacial energies involved in bioadhesion. EL interaction energies must be obtained separately, by electrokinetic methods. In bioadhesion, the importance of these forces usually is: AB > > LW > EL. The electron‐donor properties of cells and biopolymers are dominant; their electron‐acceptor parameters are negligi...