Abstract: Dormancy of seeds is an essential mechanism for plants to deal with conditions that are not ideal for the survival of its offspring by delaying the germination. The mechanism is a complex process maneuvered genetically by the plants and affected substantially by the environmental factors. The onset of seed dormancy is regulated by a combination of endogenous and external signals, which can be either synergistic or antagonistic. Plant hormones, such as abscisic acid (ABA), induce and maintain dormancy, whereas gibberellin (GA) interrupts dormancy and stimulates germination. Recently, additional elementsthat affect the seed dormancy, including dormancy specific genes, chromatin factors and non-enzymatic processes, have been identified. This article presents an overview on the molecular mechanism that controls the seed dormancy, current understandings on the science, new research approaches, as well as the regulators involving in and environmental factors affecting the induction and termination of dormancy. Direction and suggestions for further studies in the field are discussed.