Construction of Realistic superstring Standard--like Models

I discuss the construction of realistic superstring standard--like models in the four dimensional free fermionic formulation. I discuss proton lifetime constraints on superstring models. I discuss the massless spectrum of the superstring standard--like models, the texture of fermion mass matrices in these models and argue that the realistic features of these models are due to the underlying $Z_2\times Z_2$ orbifold compactification. (talk presented at the TEXAS\\PASCHOS conference, Berkeley CA, December 13--18 1992)