Two parallel methods for magnetic resonance tmaging (MRI) using radio frequency (RF) phased array surface coiks, named spatial loca! Fourier encoding (SLFE) and spatial RF encoding (SRFE), are presented. The MR signals are acquired from separate channels across the coils, each of which covers a sub-FOV (field-of-view) in a parallel fashion, and the acquired data are combined to form an image of entire FOV. These two parallel encoding techniques can accelerate MR imaging greatly, yet associated artifact rnay appear, al-though the SLFE is an effective image reconstruction method which can reduce the localized artifact in some degrees. By the SRFE, RF coil array can be utilized for spatial encoding through a specialized coil design. The images are acquired in a snapshot with a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) without the costly gradient system, resulting in great saving of cost. Both mutual induction and aliasing effect of adja-cent coils are critical to the success of SRFE. The strategies of inverse sourc Two parallel methods for magnetic resonance imaging (RF) using radio frequency (RF) phased array surface coiks, named spatial loca! Fourier encoding (SLFE) and spatial RF encoding (SRFE), are presented. The MR signals are acquired from separate channels across the coils, each of which covers a sub-FOV (field-of-view) in a parallel fashion, and the acquired data are combined to form an image of entire FOV. These two parallel encoding techniques can accelerate the MR imaging greatly, yet associated artifact rnay appear, al-though the SLFE is an effective image reconstruction method which can reduce the localized artifact in some degrees. By the SRFE, RF coil array can be utilized for spatial encoding through a specialized coil design. resulting in great saving of cost. Both mutual induction and aliasing effect of adja-cent coils are critical to the success of SRFE. The strategie s of inverse sourc