  Star-forming regions have been the targets of X-ray observations since the
dawn of satellite X-ray astronomy. The increase in sensitivity and/or spatial
resolution offered by XMM-Newton and Chandra allows a dramatic improvement,
both qualitative and quantitative, on our knowledge of high-energy phenomena in
these regions and the underlying physical processes. We summarize here some
recent developments: the Orion Nebula Cluster and its 1000+ stellar X-ray
sources; Herbig-Haro objects and their high-speed shocks; protostars, brown
dwarfs and their unusual magnetic activity; and the discovery of diffuse X-ray
emission from HII regions, presumably related to strong winds from massive
stars. The role that future X-ray missions may play in the field is already
starting to be visible.
