The motivation for the development of the "Primer for the Inspection and Strength Evaluation of Suspension Bridge Cables" is to provide a practical supplement to the NCHRP Report 534, "Guidelines for Inspection and Strength Evaluation of Suspension Bridge Parallel Wire Cables," and the FHWA "Recording and Coding Guide for the Structure Inventory and Appraisal of the Nation's Bridges." This Primer serves as an initial resource for planning and performing inspection, metallurgical testing, and strength evaluation of suspension bridge cables. This Primer also provides an example of a simplified strength evaluation, flowcharts illustrating the inspection and strength evaluation procedures, and inspection and strength evaluation forms that can be used, or replicated, by inspectors and engineers.