The review discusses the functionalization design of zinc anodes for advanced aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs), addressing the challenges of dendrite growth and side reactions. It categorizes materials used for modified zinc anodes into organic, inorganic, and composite categories, analyzing their protective mechanisms. Key strategies include ion confinement, crystal orientation optimization, uniform ion flux, increasing nucleation sites, electrostatic shielding, physical isolation, and desolvation. The review highlights the advantages and limitations of various materials, such as carbon, metallic, and nonmetallic inorganic materials, and their effectiveness in mitigating dendrite formation and side reactions. It also explores the future development directions for functionalized zinc anodes in AZIBs, emphasizing the need for cost-effective, high-performance materials and deeper understanding of protective mechanisms.The review discusses the functionalization design of zinc anodes for advanced aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs), addressing the challenges of dendrite growth and side reactions. It categorizes materials used for modified zinc anodes into organic, inorganic, and composite categories, analyzing their protective mechanisms. Key strategies include ion confinement, crystal orientation optimization, uniform ion flux, increasing nucleation sites, electrostatic shielding, physical isolation, and desolvation. The review highlights the advantages and limitations of various materials, such as carbon, metallic, and nonmetallic inorganic materials, and their effectiveness in mitigating dendrite formation and side reactions. It also explores the future development directions for functionalized zinc anodes in AZIBs, emphasizing the need for cost-effective, high-performance materials and deeper understanding of protective mechanisms.