The 14‐3‐3 proteins bind to and modulate the activity of phosphorylated proteins that regulate a variety of metabolic processes in plants. Over the past decade interest in the plant 14‐3‐3 field has increased dramatically, mainly due to the vast number of mechanisms by which 14‐3‐3 proteins regulate metabolism. As this field develops, it is essential to understand the role of these proteins in metabolic and stress responses. This review summarizes current knowledge about 14‐3‐3 proteins in plants, including their molecular structure and function, regulatory mechanism and roles in carbon and nitrogen metabolism and stress responses. We begin with a molecular structural analysis of 14‐3‐3 proteins, which describes the basic principles of 14‐3‐3 function, and then discuss the regulatory mechanisms and roles in carbon and nitrogen metabolism of 14‐3‐3 proteins. We conclude with a summary of the 14‐3‐3 response to biotic stress and abiotic stress. By binding to and modulating the activity of phosphorylated proteins, 14‐3‐3 proteins regulate various metabolic processes in plants, including carbon and nitrogen metabolism, stress response, and other metabolic processes.