Enhancing properties of high-entropy alloys via manipulation of local chemical ordering

•Based on our previous viewpoint paper, we focus on the latest progresses in the experimental characterization of LCOs, and further discuss the formation of LCOs in HEAs, as well as the challenges regarding this topic.•We highlight significant effects of LCOs on physical and mechanical properties.•Efforts on how to improve the properties via manipulation of these LCOs will be summarized and explored.•This viewpoint attempts to understand the unique properties of HEAs from a standpoint of their intrinsic atomic-scale structural fingerprints, and ultimately to establish a link between their prominent properties and distinct structural characteristics.