The monograph defines the essence of the process of understanding. Understanding is considered in the cultural and historical process, on this basis: the basic concept of understanding, the concept of understanding in science and the generalized concept of understanding, formulated at the level of the world of human internal life and the inclusion of new thoughts that reflect the outside world and the idea of ​ ​ oneself. Conceptual models of understanding in education are considered: a model of understanding the educational subject by the student and a model of understanding the student as a subject of educational activity by the teacher.