Several aspects of localized defects in the Frenkel-Kontorova, classical XY chain and analogous models with a finite range of interactions are discussed from a general point of view. Precise definitions are given for defect phase shifts (charges) and for creation, pinning, and interaction energies. Corresponding definitions are also provided for interfaces (localized regions separating two phases). For the nearest-neighbor Frenkel-Kontorova model, the various defect energies are related to areas enclosed by contours joining heteroclinic points of the area-preserving map generated by the conditions of mechanical equilibrium.