Hydrogels, traditionally valued for their biocompatibility and soft-wet properties, are now being engineered as multifunctional advanced materials to address complex challenges in biomedicine, robotics, food engineering, energy, and environmental science. Recent advances have focused on improving their mechanical properties(e.g., strength, elasticity, toughness, fatigue resistance, and autonomous repair), responsiveness(e.g., responsive to pH, temperature, light, glucose, and enzymes), biocompatibility(e.g., eco-friendly hydrogels derived from natural polymers), and diverse applications