P.N. Bhat¹ and S. Guiriec^{1,2 *
1}University of Alabama in Huntsville, 320 Sparkman Dr., Huntsville, AL, 35805, USA
²NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA

Abstract. Gamma-ray bursts are the most luminous explosions in the Universe, and their origin as well as mechanism are the focus of intense research and debate. More than three decades since their serendipitous discovery, followed by several breakthroughs from space-borne and ground-based observations, they remain one of the most interesting astrophysical phenomena yet to be completely understood. Since the launch of Fermi with its unprecedented energy band width spanning seven decades, the study of gamma-ray burst research has entered a new phase. Here we review the current theoretical understanding and observational highlights of gamma-ray burst astronomy and point out some of the potential promises of multi-wavelength observations in view of the upcoming ground based observational facilities.