The Potyviridae family comprises several genera of plant‐infecting single‐stranded positive‐sense ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses, with flexible and filamentous virion particles. In addition to the large genus Potyvirus which includes near 200 aphid‐transmitted viruses, at least 5 more genera, Bymovirus , Ipomovirus , Macluravirus , Rymovirus and Tritimovirus , have been differentiated in terms of genome composition and structure (two RNA molecules for bymoviruses, one for the rest of genera), sequence similarity and vector organisms responsible of their dissemination. Globally very important as pathogens, they also have drawn the attention of the research community for years and been used to study many aspects including taxonomy, evolution, structure, functional characterization of viral proteins, diagnosis, control and interaction with hosts and vectors. Even biotechnological applications of potyviruses are being explored. The most recent advances in our knowledge about viruses within the family are being presented.