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In professional kitchens, they're referred to as "portion scoops", a decidedly unglamorous name that I've always hated. They're also referred to by a number (like a "number 40 scoop"), which refers to how many of those scoops will fit into a quart. Neat!

I have two, a tiny 1.5 tablespoon one, and a bigger 3 to 4 tablespoon one. They're indespensible for cookies and muffins. Ice cream, I actually prefer a slightly warmed spoon.

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I have two cookie scoops, but usually I just refer to them as "hands".

My parents bought me a ridiculously useless cookie scoop once. There was no swiper-thing, so you had to pull the cookie dough out by hand... The only way to use the one they gave me was the continually dip it into flour. Spoons were faster.

I have the medium size OXO one - just got it a month or so ago - and I absolutely love it! I've also been baking up a storm since it got cooler out, and this scoop is awesome. I use it for cookies and muffins, and best of all, my kids can use it too. They need a little help from me, but it makes it so much more fun to get stuff onto baking sheets. I love how this scoop feels in the hand - heavy, but the handle is comfortable. It doesn't squeak (which is what I remember our old sweepy ice cream scoop did when I was a kid - agh, it was like nails on a blackboard), and the sweeper gets everything out of the bowl in one shot. I highly recommend it! I was a bit put off by the pricetag at first but once I used it I was a total convert.

I purchased a Martha Stewart branded one at Macys a year ago and the swiper never worked correctly so I tossed it. I'd love one so may have to take a look at OXO versions.

I have 2 of the OXO scoops and use them for cookies, muffins, waffle batter, and more. I like having 2 sizes (medium and large, I believe). They have always performed flawlessly for me, I make sure to soak the scoop ends in water until I can wash them lest any batter dry and gunk up the works.

They're also called dishers.

Ah yes, I have one of these and use it frequently. Now I don't make cookies much but these are great for mini meatballs, dollops of ricotta or fruit sorbet, scooping fillings for pastry, etc.

These work perfectly for the comment "how did you get all of your cookies the same size?". Love it!

The OXO ones work very well. Also check out the new Kuhn Rikon models...very nice but closer to $20

I use these for anything that works better when every thing is the same size. It'd be painful to go back to scooping cookie dough with two spoons, or pouring muffin batter, etc.

I have a mixture of Oxo & RVSP brand. I really like both, but do prefer the more comfy Oxo handle.

I hate these things. Maybe I need to get some new ones, but the ones we have always come apart when scooping anything. The little rod pops out of the bottom and is a big PITA to get back together--worse when it's got a full scoop of cookie dough or whatever in it. Argh...

Oh no, another gadget posting. Two table spoons work fantastic and don't take up room in the drawer plus they are easy to clean. A good eye can turn out uniform drops everytime using spoons.

They're absolutely essential, especially, as eprewitt mentions, in professional kitchens. It's the best way, short of weighing everything, to get standardized products. I've used them for everything from cookies to liquidy batters- seems silly, but if you know that you need exactly 5 scoops of filling for something, you'll never have issues with overflowing muffins or underfilled pies. And yes, I definitely love them at home too. I guess maybe I'm just too much of a perfectionist, but I love precise-ness :-)

Another great use: cleaning out pumpkins and squash.