The order Microascales is a group of fungi within the class Sordariomycetes, primarily characterized by their small, often darkly pigmented fruiting bodies and microscopic, single-celled or multicellular ascospores. Members of this order are typically saprobic, living on decaying plant material, soil, or other organic substrates, and some are known to be opportunistic pathogens in humans and animals. They reproduce sexually through the formation of asci containing ascospores, and many also have asexual reproductive stages producing conidia. Microascales includes genera such as Microascus and Scopulariopsis, which are notable for their ecological roles in decomposition as well as their clinical relevance in infections. These fungi are generally cosmopolitan and can thrive in diverse terrestrial environments.