HIV latency refers to the ability of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to remain dormant and undetectable in infected cells, even in the presence of antiretroviral therapy. This latent reservoir of HIV poses a major challenge for HIV treatment and cure efforts, as it allows the virus to persist in the body and potentially reactivate at any time. Research in the area of HIV latency aims to understand the mechanisms that allow the virus to establish and maintain latency, as well as to develop strategies to target and eliminate these latent reservoirs. This includes investigating the role of immune responses, viral factors, and host cell factors in the establishment of latency, as well as exploring potential therapeutic interventions such as latency-reversing agents and gene editing techniques. Overall, research in HIV latency is crucial for developing new approaches to achieve a functional cure for HIV infection, where viral replication is controlled without the need for lifelong antiretroviral therapy.