This review focuses on the development of advanced materials, particularly transition metal-based electrocatalysts, for the detection of phenolic compounds. Phenolic compounds, which are significant in environmental, food safety, and healthcare sectors, require highly efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts to enable sensitive detection. The review highlights the advantages of transition metal-based materials, such as oxides, phosphides, and chalcogenides, over traditional electrocatalysts due to their high catalytic activity, durability, and low cost. It discusses the recent advancements in the synthesis and application of these materials, including their morphological designs, composition tuning, and surface engineering to enhance catalytic performance. The review also provides a comparative analysis of the sensing performance of different electrode materials for various phenolic compounds, emphasizing the superior performance of transition metal phosphides and selenides. Additionally, it addresses the challenges in detecting phenolic compounds, such as structural analogs and the need for biomolecule immobilization, and suggests that transition metal-based catalysts offer viable alternatives for biomolecule-free detection. The review concludes by outlining future perspectives, including the integration of theoretical predictions with advanced characterization techniques, the utilization of real samples, and the potential for mass production of sensors using transition metal-based materials.This review focuses on the development of advanced materials, particularly transition metal-based electrocatalysts, for the detection of phenolic compounds. Phenolic compounds, which are significant in environmental, food safety, and healthcare sectors, require highly efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts to enable sensitive detection. The review highlights the advantages of transition metal-based materials, such as oxides, phosphides, and chalcogenides, over traditional electrocatalysts due to their high catalytic activity, durability, and low cost. It discusses the recent advancements in the synthesis and application of these materials, including their morphological designs, composition tuning, and surface engineering to enhance catalytic performance. The review also provides a comparative analysis of the sensing performance of different electrode materials for various phenolic compounds, emphasizing the superior performance of transition metal phosphides and selenides. Additionally, it addresses the challenges in detecting phenolic compounds, such as structural analogs and the need for biomolecule immobilization, and suggests that transition metal-based catalysts offer viable alternatives for biomolecule-free detection. The review concludes by outlining future perspectives, including the integration of theoretical predictions with advanced characterization techniques, the utilization of real samples, and the potential for mass production of sensors using transition metal-based materials.