Viral latency refers to a phenomenon where a virus remains dormant or inactive within a host cell, without causing immediate symptoms or undergoing replication. During latency, the viral genome is maintained in the infected cell but does not produce new virus particles. This allows the virus to evade the host's immune system and establish a persistent infection. Latency is commonly seen in certain types of viruses, such as herpesviruses and retroviruses, and can be reactivated under certain conditions, leading to recurrent viral shedding and disease reactivation. Research in viral latency aims to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying latency, identify factors that regulate viral reactivation, and develop strategies to target latent viruses for therapeutic intervention.