Recent technological advances have enabled researchers to accurately and efficiently assay the chromatin dynamics of scarce cell populations. In this Opinion article, we advocate the application of these technologies to central questions in immunology. Unlike changes to other molecular structures in the cell, chromatin features can reveal the past (developmental history), present (current activity) and future (potential response to challenges) of a given immune cell type; chromatin profiling is therefore an important new tool for studying the immune-regulatory networks of health and disease.