Visible light photon counters (VLPCs) are solid-state devices providing high quantum efficiency (QE) photon detection (>88%) with photon number resolving capability and low timing jitter (∼250 ps). VLPC features high QE in the 0.4-1.0μm wavelength range, as the main photon absorption mechanism is provided by electron-hole pair generation across the silicon bandgap. In this paper, we will discuss the optical and electrical operating principles of VLPCs, and propose a range of device optimization paths that improves various aspects of VLPC for advanced quantum optics and quantum information processing experiments, both in the UV and the telecom wavelength range. © 2011 SPIE.