An introduction to $V$-filtrations

We give an introduction to the theory of $V$-filtrations of Malgrange and Kashiwara. After discussing the basic properties of this construction (in the case of a smooth hypersurface and, later, in the general case), we describe the connection with the theory of $b$-functions. As an example, we treat the case of weighted homogeneous isolated singularities. We discuss the compatibility of $V$-filtrations with proper push-forward and duality and the connection with nearby and vanishing cycles via the Riemann-Hilbert correspondence. We end by describing some invariants of singularities via the $V$-filtration.