Quantum phase transitions occur at zero temperature driven by quantum fluctuations instead of thermal fluctuations. They take place due to competing ground state phases that are accessible for different values of certain non-thermal parameters such as coupling constants, pressure or magnetic field. The chapter starts with a discussion of the main phenomenological features of this class of non-thermal transitions. In particular, it is argued that traces of these transitions can be detected at finite (but low) temperature. Then, examples of materials that show this behaviour are provided. Finally, the quantum Ising model is discussed and it is shown that a quantum model in d dimensions can be mapped to a classical model in d+1 dimensions.