This publication provides a comprehensive and systematically organized coverage of higher order finite-difference time-domain or FDTD schemes, demonstrating their potential role as a powerful modeling tool in computational electromagnetics. Special emphasis is drawn on the analysis of contemporary waveguide and antenna structures. Acknowledged as a significant breakthrough in the evolution of the original Yee''s algorithm, the higher order FDTD operators remain the subject of an ongoing scientific research. Among their indisputable merits, one can distinguish the enhanced levels of accuracy even for coarse grid resolutions, the fast convergence rates, and the adjustable stability. In fact, as the fabrication standards of modern systems get stricter, it is apparent that such properties become very appealing for the accomplishment of elaborate and credible designs.