"A detailed summary of the most relevant aspects of the thermodynamics of a shallow solar still is presented, including historical features not often found in the literature. Solar distillation has grown from applying empirical knowledge to advanced modeling and simulation. Geometrical, environmental and operational parameters of the solar still to heat transfer phenomena including evaporation and condensation, are taken into account in this overview, giving a comprehensive structure and classification to the study of solar stills from the thermodynamic point of view. The article describes global parameters, such as solar radiation, wind speed and thermal insulation among others and how they have been taken into account in the literature. Also, a distinction between internal and external heat transfer phenomena is proposed for clarification. Exergy balance is included to account for thermodynamic imperfections in the several processes inside the solar still."