The decay of a free neutron provides a powerful means of testing the Standard Model and searching for physics beyond it. Measurements of the decay lifetime and decay correlations, for example, play a key role in the precise determination of the CKM matrix element Vud, the search for exotic currents in charged weak interactions, and the exploration of light degrees of freedom that extend beyond the effective field theory framework. In this talk, I will provide a brief overview of the current status of the field, highlighting recent theoretical and experimental advances, and I will offer an outlook on future prospects.