This chapter provides a comprehensive guide to the use of hydrogels for cell culture, emphasizing their potential to better mimic the extracellular environment and enhance understanding of cellular processes. Hydrogels, which are water-swollen networks of polymers, have emerged as a promising tool due to their ability to mimic the mechanical and compositional cues found in native extracellular matrices (ECMs). The authors introduce the concept of hydrogels, explain their fabrication and characterization, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various hydrogel types. They highlight the importance of hydrogel properties such as mechanics, swelling, mesh size, and degradation, and provide practical guidance on selecting and using hydrogels for cell culture. The chapter also covers sterilization methods, cell isolation techniques, and visualization methods for hydrogel cultures. Additionally, it reviews the use of natural and synthetic hydrogels, including collagen, fibrin, alginate, polyacrylamide, polyethylene glycol, hyaluronic acid, and polypeptides, detailing their applications and limitations. The authors aim to serve as a primer for nonexperts and provide a roadmap for researchers interested in applying hydrogels to their cell studies.This chapter provides a comprehensive guide to the use of hydrogels for cell culture, emphasizing their potential to better mimic the extracellular environment and enhance understanding of cellular processes. Hydrogels, which are water-swollen networks of polymers, have emerged as a promising tool due to their ability to mimic the mechanical and compositional cues found in native extracellular matrices (ECMs). The authors introduce the concept of hydrogels, explain their fabrication and characterization, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various hydrogel types. They highlight the importance of hydrogel properties such as mechanics, swelling, mesh size, and degradation, and provide practical guidance on selecting and using hydrogels for cell culture. The chapter also covers sterilization methods, cell isolation techniques, and visualization methods for hydrogel cultures. Additionally, it reviews the use of natural and synthetic hydrogels, including collagen, fibrin, alginate, polyacrylamide, polyethylene glycol, hyaluronic acid, and polypeptides, detailing their applications and limitations. The authors aim to serve as a primer for nonexperts and provide a roadmap for researchers interested in applying hydrogels to their cell studies.