This research article compares viral communities identified from viromes (virus-enriched samples) and metagenomes (total community samples) across diverse environments. The study reveals that viromes generally yield greater viral richness and more complete genome assemblies than metagenomes, although metagenomes capture some viruses not found in viromes. Significant differences in the abundance of lytic and lysogenic viruses were also observed between the two approaches. The authors conclude that using both viromes and metagenomes provides the most comprehensive view of viral communities, with the optimal choice of method depending on the specific research question and environmental context. The findings highlight the importance of considering methodological choices when interpreting viral community ecology.