Lipophagy is a specialized form of selective autophagy that targets intracellular lipid droplets for degradation via the lysosomal pathway. As a research concept, it investigates the molecular mechanisms governing the recognition, sequestration, and lysosomal breakdown of lipid droplets, revealing its critical roles in cellular lipid homeostasis, energy balance, adaptation to nutrient availability, and its involvement in various metabolic and pathological conditions.