let $k$ be a field with a valuation $v$. given a projective variety $x$ over $k$, we can associate an analytification $x^{an}$ with respect to $v$ called the berkovich space. these spaces appear in various contexts, such as tropical geometry and number theory. more recently there have appeared surprising connections between berkovich geometry and birational geometry. i will give a brief overview of berkovich spaces with examples, and describe how the birational geometry of $x$ is reflected in the geometry of the associated berkovich space.