The review discusses the airborne transmission of respiratory viruses, particularly focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights that traditional views of droplet and fomite transmission have limitations, as evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic's superspreading events and differences in transmission between indoor and outdoor environments. The review emphasizes that respiratory droplets and aerosols can be generated by various expiratory activities, with most exhaled aerosols being smaller than 5 μm. The size distinction between aerosols and droplets should be 100 μm, as this size is the largest that can remain suspended in still air for more than 5 seconds. Aerosols produced by infected individuals may contain infectious viruses, and studies show that viruses are enriched in small aerosols (<5 μm). The transport of virus-laden aerosols is influenced by physicochemical properties and environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity, ultraviolet radiation, airflow, and ventilation. Once inhaled, virus-laden aerosols can deposit in different parts of the respiratory tract, with larger aerosols tending to deposit in the upper airway and smaller aerosols penetrating deeper into the lungs. The review also discusses the importance of ventilation, airflows, air filtration, UV disinfection, and mask fit in mitigating the spread of respiratory infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have officially acknowledged the inhalation of virus-laden aerosols as a main transmission mode for COVID-19 at both short and long ranges. The review concludes that airborne transmission is more prevalent than previously recognized and that a reevaluation of major transmission pathways for other respiratory viruses is necessary to inform effective infection control measures.The review discusses the airborne transmission of respiratory viruses, particularly focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights that traditional views of droplet and fomite transmission have limitations, as evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic's superspreading events and differences in transmission between indoor and outdoor environments. The review emphasizes that respiratory droplets and aerosols can be generated by various expiratory activities, with most exhaled aerosols being smaller than 5 μm. The size distinction between aerosols and droplets should be 100 μm, as this size is the largest that can remain suspended in still air for more than 5 seconds. Aerosols produced by infected individuals may contain infectious viruses, and studies show that viruses are enriched in small aerosols (<5 μm). The transport of virus-laden aerosols is influenced by physicochemical properties and environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity, ultraviolet radiation, airflow, and ventilation. Once inhaled, virus-laden aerosols can deposit in different parts of the respiratory tract, with larger aerosols tending to deposit in the upper airway and smaller aerosols penetrating deeper into the lungs. The review also discusses the importance of ventilation, airflows, air filtration, UV disinfection, and mask fit in mitigating the spread of respiratory infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have officially acknowledged the inhalation of virus-laden aerosols as a main transmission mode for COVID-19 at both short and long ranges. The review concludes that airborne transmission is more prevalent than previously recognized and that a reevaluation of major transmission pathways for other respiratory viruses is necessary to inform effective infection control measures.