Autophagy is a fundamental cell biological pathway affecting immunity. Whereas autophagy is an antimicrobial effector of conventional pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), autophagic adaptors termed SLRs represent a new subset of PRRs and provide the mechanistic basis for autophagic elimination of intracellular microbes. Autophagy controls inflammation via regulatory interactions with innate immunity signalling, by removing endogenous inflammasome agonists, and thorough effects on secretion of immune mediators. Autophagy contributes to antigen presentation, T cell homeostasis, and affects T cell repertories and polarization including Th17 inflammation. Here, we review the above relationships organized into four principal roles of autophagy in infection, inflammation, and immunity.