Imidazole is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry as a building block for synthesizing drugs, particularly antifungal agents like ketoconazole and miconazole. Its structure is essential in mimicking physiological molecules, making it valuable in creating biologically active compounds.

It serves as a key component in the production of histidine analogs and is involved in the development of anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial medications.

In biochemical research, imidazole is used as a buffer in biological assays due to its effective pH range near physiological conditions. It is also employed in protein purification, especially in nickel-affinity chromatography, where it helps elute His-tagged recombinant proteins.

Imidazole derivatives are used in agrochemicals, including fungicides and pesticides, due to their ability to interfere with fungal cell membranes.

Additionally, it finds use in the synthesis of ionic liquids and as a corrosion inhibitor in industrial systems. Its versatility in coordination chemistry makes it useful in catalysis and material science applications.