The FC Spider (Few Cycle Spider) by APE provides spectral and temporal characterization of ultrashort laser pulses down to below 5 fs. It covers both the red and near infrared range, and visible wavelength region with the FC Spider VIS. This high-precision tool is ideal for aligning and monitoring the performance of broadband Ti:Sa oscillators and amplifier chains with bandwidths starting at 30 nm. The FC Spider VIS supports the visible spectral region down to 450 nm, suitable for characterization of e.g. nonlinear optical parametric amplifiers (NOPA). Based on the proven and patented Spider* technology, using a non-drifting, etalon interferometer and a material dispersion stretcher, the FC Spider directly measures the spectral phase by analyzing a spectral interferogram. In combination with a simultaneously measured power spectrum, real-time calculation and visualization of the spectral and temporal amplitude and phase is accomplished.