The immune system has most likely evolved to limit the negative impact exerted by pathogens on host homeostasis. This defense strategy relies on the concerted action of innate and adaptive components of the immune system, which sense and target pathogens for containment, destruction or expulsion. Resistance to infection refers to these immune functions, which reduce the pathogen load of an infected host as the means to preserve homeostasis. Immune-driven resistance to infection is coupled to an additional, and arguably as important, defense strategy that limits the extent of dysfunction imposed to host parenchyma tissues during infection, without exerting a direct negative impact on pathogens.This defense strategy, called disease tolerance, relies on tissue damage control mechanisms that prevent the deleterious effects of pathogens, while uncoupling immunedriven resistance mechanisms from immunopathology and disease. Here we provide a unifying view of resistance and disease tolerance within the framework of immunity to infection.