String theory provides a framework for ultraviolet complete theories of quantum gravity, which is capable to describe most ingredients of phenomenologically realistic models of particle physics, such as the standard model and its numerous extensions. Similarly, progress has been made to describe aspects of cosmology within string theory.

The formulation of such an overarching theory remains challenging. It necessarily demands many tools in mathematics, which are often not even developed yet. Therefore progress in string theory is tied to advances in mathematics.