Viral proteases are enzymes produced by viruses that are responsible for cleaving viral proteins into smaller functional units. These proteases play a critical role in the viral life cycle by facilitating the processing of viral polyproteins, which are large precursor proteins that are cleaved into individual proteins that are essential for viral replication and propagation. Inhibiting viral proteases has been a key target for antiviral drug development, as disruption of protease activity can prevent viral replication and spread. Research in this area focuses on understanding the structure, function, and inhibition of viral proteases to develop new antiviral therapeutics.