topological defects seeded by the disordered initial configuration which, in turn, are determined by the space dimensionality $d$ and the number of components $N$ of the order parameter. For $N<d$ defects are spatially extended; in this case coarsening is driven by reducing the typical curvature of the defect core, removal of sharp features and shrinking of domain bubbles or vortex loops. Systems with $N=d$ are characterized by the presence of stable localized topological defects and the ordering process occurs by mutual defect-antidefect annihilation. This is the case of the Ising chain quenched to a final temperature $T_f=0$, where up and down domains are separated by point-like interfaces performing Brownian walks. When $N=d+1$, such as in the one dimensional XY model, the kinetics is characterized by textures, spatially extended defects without a core, along which the order parameter rotates by $2\pi$. Growth of the typical size of textures is a relevant mechanism at work in these systems. Finally, for $N>d+1$ topological defects are unstable and the dynamics is solely driven by the reduction of the excess energy related to the smooth rotations of the order parameter.

In any case, the development of order is associated to the growth of one or 