African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and lethal viral disease affecting both domestic and wild swine. Since it was first identified in East Africa in the early 1900s, it has plagued the global swine industry for over a century. Classified as a notifiable disease by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH; formerly OIE), ASF has caused substantial economic losses due to pork shortages, trade restrictions, and eradication efforts. Although not a direct threat to human health, ASF’s devastating impact on swine populations necessitates urgent global attention. Currently, no effective treatment or widely available vaccine exists, and eradication remains challenging. The causative agent, African swine fever virus (ASFV), is a large, double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Asfarviridae family. This complex virus genome is approximately 170–194 kilobase pairs (kbp) and contains over 150 open reading frames (ORFs), depending on the strain. While warthogs and specific soft ticks act as natural reservoirs for ASFV, harboring the virus with no signs of illness, domestic pigs face a different fate. Infection in domestic pigs triggers a severe and often fatal disease with high mortality rates. Genotype II ASFV, which emerged in the Caucasus region in 2007, has driven the current pandemic. Since then, ASF has spread rapidly, affecting regions across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. This chapter offers a comprehensive overview of ASF, encompassing its history, etiology, epidemiology, clinical signs, pathology, diagnosis, immunity, prevention, and control strategies. Additionally, this chapter identifies critical challenges and explores potential solutions for future ASF management.