This review summarizes recent advances in engineering hydrogels, focusing on their design, properties, and applications. Hydrogels are three-dimensional networks of hydrophilic polymer chains in a water-rich environment, offering tunable physicochemical properties. Traditional hydrogels have limitations in mechanical strength and dynamic responsiveness, but recent developments have improved their properties through innovative chemistries, dynamic modulation, and complex architectures. These advancements enable precise control over hydrogel properties across multiple scales, enhancing their functionality in biomedical, soft electronics, sensors, and actuators. Key improvements include enhanced mechanical strength, shear-thinning, self-healing, and responsiveness. Hydrogels can be engineered to exhibit dynamic behavior, such as shape-morphing, autonomous healing, and stimuli-responsive modulation. These properties are achieved through various methods, including chemical cross-linking, nanomaterial integration, and dynamic physical interactions. Additionally, hydrogels can be tailored to respond to external stimuli like temperature, pH, light, and magnetic fields, enabling controlled release and actuation. The review also discusses the fabrication of hydrogels, including methods like microengineering, 3D printing, and self-assembly. These techniques allow for the creation of complex, hierarchical structures that mimic biological tissues. The integration of hydrogels with advanced biofabrication techniques opens new possibilities for applications in soft robotics, biomedical devices, and tissue engineering. However, challenges remain in clinical translation, long-term stability, and the need for further optimization of hydrogel properties for specific applications. Overall, the field of hydrogel engineering is rapidly evolving, offering promising solutions for a wide range of scientific and technological challenges.This review summarizes recent advances in engineering hydrogels, focusing on their design, properties, and applications. Hydrogels are three-dimensional networks of hydrophilic polymer chains in a water-rich environment, offering tunable physicochemical properties. Traditional hydrogels have limitations in mechanical strength and dynamic responsiveness, but recent developments have improved their properties through innovative chemistries, dynamic modulation, and complex architectures. These advancements enable precise control over hydrogel properties across multiple scales, enhancing their functionality in biomedical, soft electronics, sensors, and actuators. Key improvements include enhanced mechanical strength, shear-thinning, self-healing, and responsiveness. Hydrogels can be engineered to exhibit dynamic behavior, such as shape-morphing, autonomous healing, and stimuli-responsive modulation. These properties are achieved through various methods, including chemical cross-linking, nanomaterial integration, and dynamic physical interactions. Additionally, hydrogels can be tailored to respond to external stimuli like temperature, pH, light, and magnetic fields, enabling controlled release and actuation. The review also discusses the fabrication of hydrogels, including methods like microengineering, 3D printing, and self-assembly. These techniques allow for the creation of complex, hierarchical structures that mimic biological tissues. The integration of hydrogels with advanced biofabrication techniques opens new possibilities for applications in soft robotics, biomedical devices, and tissue engineering. However, challenges remain in clinical translation, long-term stability, and the need for further optimization of hydrogel properties for specific applications. Overall, the field of hydrogel engineering is rapidly evolving, offering promising solutions for a wide range of scientific and technological challenges.