Using ‘knockin’ mice to track and ablate dendritic cells (DCs) expressing notably the langerin (Cd207) gene, it has been possible to identify five DC subsets within the skin and to assess whether functional specialization exists among them. The present review summarizes recent information concerning the phenotype and the function of these five DC subsets before and after their migration to cutaneous draining lymph nodes. Moreover, it integrates this information into a unifying model that emphasizes the similarities that exist among the mouse DC subsets that are found in both lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues.