Shape sensing is the inverse problem of reconstructing the displacement field of a structure from discrete strain measurements. From displacements, full-field strains and stresses can also be evaluated, enabling Structural Health Monitoring, the control of morphed structures, and the development of predictive maintenance strategies and Digital Twin technologies. Among the various approaches proposed for shape sensing, the inverse Finite Element Method (iFEM) has emerged as particularly effective due to its versatility regarding complex loading conditions, material systems, and geometries. Based on the FEM discretization of the analyzed component and on the least-square compatibility between measured and reconstructed strains, iFEM has been initially formulated for thin-walled components, then extended to beam and frame structures and more recently to moderately thick multilayered plates.