Arabidopsis trichomes are specialized and typically unicellular structures that differentiate from epidermal cells in aerial tissues. Significant progress has been made in understanding the genetic control of Arabidopsis trichome development. A number of genes involved in different stages of trichome development have been isolated. Functional analysis of the corresponding genes has revealed a first glimpse into the underlying molecular mechanisms of trichome development and regulation. This review focuses on recent insights and progress in trichome development and discusses prospectives for further study, including underlying applications and the value of trichome research in Arabidopsis.