Carbon dots (CDs) have emerged as a versatile and promising carbon-based nanomaterial with exceptional optical properties, including tunable emission wavelengths, high quantum yield, and photostability. CDs are suitable for various applications due to their biocompatibility, low toxicity, and ease of surface modification. They have been used in sensing as fluorescent probes for detecting pH, heavy metal ions, and other analytes. Additionally, CDs have demonstrated potential as luminescence converters for white organic light-emitting diodes and light emitters in optoelectronic devices. In the biomedical field, CDs have been used for drug administration and bioimaging due to their biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity, and ease of functionalization. CDs have also shown interesting uses in energy systems, such as photocatalysis and energy conversion, due to their stability, efficient charge separation, and low recombination rate. The article highlights the growing possibilities and potential of CDs in interdisciplinary areas related to sensing and imaging, addressing major challenges and proposing scientific solutions to apply CDs in the development of a super smart society. The classification of CDs into five principal types—Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs), Graphitic Carbon Nitride Quantum Dots (g-CNQDs), Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs), Carbon Nanodots (CNDs), and Carbonized Polymer Dots (CPDs)—is discussed, along with their unique structural and functional properties. Synthesis methods for CDs include top-down approaches such as laser ablation, acidic oxidation, and arc discharge, and bottom-up approaches like hydrothermal and solvothermal synthesis, microwave synthesis, combustion synthesis, and electrochemical synthesis. Each method has its advantages and limitations, contributing to the diverse applications of CDs. The article also delves into the properties of CDs, including their structural and optical characteristics. CDs typically exhibit a core-shell structure, with a core of polycrystalline nanodomains and an amorphous region. Their optical properties, such as absorption and photoluminescence, are influenced by quantum confinement, surface states, and molecular states. Surface functionalization techniques, such as heteroatom doping and surface passivation, are crucial for tailoring the properties of CDs for specific applications. Overall, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the current state and future potential of Carbon Dots in sensing and imaging, emphasizing their versatility and the ongoing efforts to overcome challenges in their synthesis and application.Carbon dots (CDs) have emerged as a versatile and promising carbon-based nanomaterial with exceptional optical properties, including tunable emission wavelengths, high quantum yield, and photostability. CDs are suitable for various applications due to their biocompatibility, low toxicity, and ease of surface modification. They have been used in sensing as fluorescent probes for detecting pH, heavy metal ions, and other analytes. Additionally, CDs have demonstrated potential as luminescence converters for white organic light-emitting diodes and light emitters in optoelectronic devices. In the biomedical field, CDs have been used for drug administration and bioimaging due to their biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity, and ease of functionalization. CDs have also shown interesting uses in energy systems, such as photocatalysis and energy conversion, due to their stability, efficient charge separation, and low recombination rate. The article highlights the growing possibilities and potential of CDs in interdisciplinary areas related to sensing and imaging, addressing major challenges and proposing scientific solutions to apply CDs in the development of a super smart society. The classification of CDs into five principal types—Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs), Graphitic Carbon Nitride Quantum Dots (g-CNQDs), Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs), Carbon Nanodots (CNDs), and Carbonized Polymer Dots (CPDs)—is discussed, along with their unique structural and functional properties. Synthesis methods for CDs include top-down approaches such as laser ablation, acidic oxidation, and arc discharge, and bottom-up approaches like hydrothermal and solvothermal synthesis, microwave synthesis, combustion synthesis, and electrochemical synthesis. Each method has its advantages and limitations, contributing to the diverse applications of CDs. The article also delves into the properties of CDs, including their structural and optical characteristics. CDs typically exhibit a core-shell structure, with a core of polycrystalline nanodomains and an amorphous region. Their optical properties, such as absorption and photoluminescence, are influenced by quantum confinement, surface states, and molecular states. Surface functionalization techniques, such as heteroatom doping and surface passivation, are crucial for tailoring the properties of CDs for specific applications. Overall, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the current state and future potential of Carbon Dots in sensing and imaging, emphasizing their versatility and the ongoing efforts to overcome challenges in their synthesis and application.