For large classes of dispersive equations, it has been conjectured that the solution will eventually break up as finite sum of solitons plus linear dispersion. This conjecture is open for most equations, but for nonlinear wave equations, there are better understanding of the mechanism for the soliton resolution, using both arguments of a geometric flavor and a strong de-coupling mechanism for the dispersive part and solitons, called ``channel of energy inequality". In this talk, I will explain these ideas in the context of the recent proof of soliton resolution along a sequence of times. Joint work with Duyckaerts, Kenig, Merle.