Microbial physiology is the study of the physiological processes of microorganisms, including their behavior, metabolism, and growth. There are several synonyms that can be used to describe this field of study depending on the context or focus of the research. For instance, some may use the term microbial metabolism to emphasize the biochemical reactions and pathways that microorganisms use to sustain their life. Others may prefer terms like microbial ecology, microbial genetics, or microbial genomics, which are more specialized fields that explore the interactions between microorganisms and their environment, genes, or gene expression, respectively. Regardless of the synonym used, the study of microbial physiology is essential to understand how microorganisms influence our ecosystem, human health, and biotechnology.