Opportunistic unlicensed access to the (tem- porarily) unused frequency bands across the licensed radio spectrum is currently being inves- tigated as a means to increase the efficiency of spectrum usage. Such opportunistic access calls for implementation of safeguards so that ongo- ing licensed operations are not compromised. Among different candidates, sensing-based access, where the unlicensed users transmit if they sense the licensed band to be free, is partic- ularly appealing due to its low deployment cost and its compatibility with the legacy licensed sys- tems. The ability to reliably and autonomously identify unused frequency bands is envisaged as one of the main functionalities of cognitive radios. In this article we provide an overview of the regulatory requirements and major chal- lenges associated with the practical implementa- tion of spectrum sensing functionality in cognitive radio systems. Furthermore, we outline different design trade-offs that have to be made in order to enhance various aspects of the sys- tem’s performance.