Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the intestine. The precise etiology of IBD remains unclear, but it is believed that complex interactions between genetics, environmental factors, and the host immune system lead to aberrant immune responses and chronic intestinal inflammation. The gut microbiota, a complex community of microbes, plays a crucial role in maintaining host health through various physiological functions, such as nutrition, immune development, and defense against pathogens. Dysbiosis, an alteration in the composition and function of the gut microbiota, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of IBD. Clinical and experimental data suggest that dysbiosis may play a pivotal role in the development of IBD. This review focuses on the physiological functions of the gut microbiota and its association with IBD pathogenesis. Additionally, it discusses therapeutic options for manipulating the altered gut microbiota, such as probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Probiotics, which are living microorganisms that exert beneficial effects on the host by modulating the intestinal microbiota, have shown some efficacy in IBD. However, their effectiveness varies depending on the type of probiotic and the disease state. FMT, which involves transferring intestinal microbiota from healthy donors to patients with IBD, has shown promising results in treating recurrent Clostridium difficile infection but has less success in IBD. Future research should aim to optimize FMT protocols and determine its long-term safety and efficacy in IBD.Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the intestine. The precise etiology of IBD remains unclear, but it is believed that complex interactions between genetics, environmental factors, and the host immune system lead to aberrant immune responses and chronic intestinal inflammation. The gut microbiota, a complex community of microbes, plays a crucial role in maintaining host health through various physiological functions, such as nutrition, immune development, and defense against pathogens. Dysbiosis, an alteration in the composition and function of the gut microbiota, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of IBD. Clinical and experimental data suggest that dysbiosis may play a pivotal role in the development of IBD. This review focuses on the physiological functions of the gut microbiota and its association with IBD pathogenesis. Additionally, it discusses therapeutic options for manipulating the altered gut microbiota, such as probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Probiotics, which are living microorganisms that exert beneficial effects on the host by modulating the intestinal microbiota, have shown some efficacy in IBD. However, their effectiveness varies depending on the type of probiotic and the disease state. FMT, which involves transferring intestinal microbiota from healthy donors to patients with IBD, has shown promising results in treating recurrent Clostridium difficile infection but has less success in IBD. Future research should aim to optimize FMT protocols and determine its long-term safety and efficacy in IBD.