Recent advances in the study of the prompt emission of gamma-ray bursts

Gamma-ray bursts are the most energetic transients occurring in the distant cosmos. They are produced by either the collapse of massive stars or the merger of compact objects like neutron stars or black holes. Currently, gamma-ray burst is the only astrophysical event successfully observed in different messengers such as gravitational and electromagnetic waves. Despite several decades of extensive observations and research, gamma-ray bursts still remain largely elusive in terms of their central engine, jet composition and radiation process. In this article, the author will review the recent observational and theoretical advancements made in the direction to resolve some of these enigmas and the future outlook.