Snappers are found in the tropical and subtropical regions of all the oceans. They can grow to about a metre in length. Most feed on crustaceans or other fish, though a few are plankton-feeders. They can be kept in aquaria, but mostly grow too fast to be popular aquarium fish. They live at depths of up to 450m.

About 100 species of snapper are currently recognised, divided into about 16 genera. A very large number of fish species have "snapper" in their common name; most but not all of these are members of the family Lutjanidae. Almost all the 60 or so species in the genus Lutjanus have common names including the word "snapper".