The term has its origin from Greek: herpeton, meaning "creeping animal" and logia, meaning “study”. It is the discipline of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (includes frogs, toads, salamanders and caecilians) and of reptiles (includes snakes, lizards, amphisbaenids, turtles, tortoises, crocodilians, and tuataras).

Herpetology is concerned with poikilothermic, or ectothermic, or cold blooded tetrapods. "Herps" (or sometimes referred to as "herptiles" or "herpetofauna") include reptiles and amphibians, but exclude fish. However, it is not uncommon for herpetologists to team up with other biologists and work together in order to foster the exchange of ideas between disciplines. Herpetology offers benefits to humanity in the study of the role of amphibians and reptiles in global ecology, especially because amphibians are often very sensitive to environmental changes, offering a visible warning to humans that significant changes are taking place. Amphibians have suffered dramatic declines worldwide because of climate change impacts. They are known to serve as “canaries in the coal mines” when an impending environmental impact to humans is highlighted in advance. Coupled with the sensitivity of these animals to subtle changes, they serve as reliable “sentinels” of health of the whole environment. Recent outbreaks of diseases such as Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever, SARS and Avian Influenza remind us that human and animal health are intimately connected. A broader understanding of health and disease demands a unity of approach achievable only through a consilience of human, domestic animal and wildlife health. During evolution the herptiles were the first vertebrates to set foot on land from water, sparking a boom in diversification of vertebrates on the terrestrial biome. They have survived nearly 400 million years of evolution, punctuated with several episodic mass extinctions on the earth. Studying reptiles and amphibian diseases could only lead us to closer to understanding risks that the humankind faces and how they might be surpassed.

Amphibians serve our farmers by feeding on potential insect pests of crops and also help in maintaining the fertility of farmlands. Herpetology aims to demystify the biology of herpetofauna and stamp out irrational thoughts and superstitions associated with these amazing vertebrates. Snakes many other herptiles are often targets of superstitions and persecution by humans. Herpetology reveals aspects of their biology that can serve humans beneficially and their role in the ecosystem. Snakes in farmlands feed on rats and control loss of grain production. They effectively control rodent population in tropical farmland areas. The intricate link between human societies and reptiles like snakes are amply represented in Indian mythology and the co-existence of snakes and humans in rural India is a time-honoured practice. Some toxins and venoms produced by reptiles and amphibians are useful in human medicine. Currently, some snake venom has been used to create anti-coagulants that work to treat stroke victims and heart attack cases.

People with an avid interest in herpetology, handle reptiles and amphibians, photograph them or examine them closely and take notes on them. They also sometimes rear different reptiles or amphibians with them, often refer to themselves as "herpers." Many herpetological societies and communities exist today that promote interest in reptiles and amphibians both captive and wild.

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