This review discusses the importance of removing dyes from textile wastewater due to their harmful effects on aquatic life and human health. It highlights the need for efficient methods to completely degrade dyes with minimal waste. Photocatalysis, particularly heterogeneous photocatalysis, is presented as a promising method for degrading toxic and organic pollutants in wastewater. The review classifies synthetic dyes into ionic and nonionic compounds and explains various dye removal methods, including biological, physical, and advanced oxidation processes. It also discusses the mechanisms of photocatalysis, including homogeneous and heterogeneous photocatalysis, and their advantages for dye removal. The review addresses factors affecting photocatalytic efficiency, such as pH, temperature, light intensity, catalyst dose, and dye concentration. It also explores the impact of inorganic ions, photocatalyst morphology, and regeneration strategies on dye degradation. The review emphasizes the importance of developing stable and efficient photocatalysts for industrial wastewater treatment and highlights the potential of photocatalytic degradation for future applications. The review concludes by discussing the composition of photocatalysts, focusing on three generations of metal oxides, and their effectiveness in dye removal. The study also highlights the potential of photocatalytic technologies for real industrial wastewater treatment and the challenges in their widespread application.This review discusses the importance of removing dyes from textile wastewater due to their harmful effects on aquatic life and human health. It highlights the need for efficient methods to completely degrade dyes with minimal waste. Photocatalysis, particularly heterogeneous photocatalysis, is presented as a promising method for degrading toxic and organic pollutants in wastewater. The review classifies synthetic dyes into ionic and nonionic compounds and explains various dye removal methods, including biological, physical, and advanced oxidation processes. It also discusses the mechanisms of photocatalysis, including homogeneous and heterogeneous photocatalysis, and their advantages for dye removal. The review addresses factors affecting photocatalytic efficiency, such as pH, temperature, light intensity, catalyst dose, and dye concentration. It also explores the impact of inorganic ions, photocatalyst morphology, and regeneration strategies on dye degradation. The review emphasizes the importance of developing stable and efficient photocatalysts for industrial wastewater treatment and highlights the potential of photocatalytic degradation for future applications. The review concludes by discussing the composition of photocatalysts, focusing on three generations of metal oxides, and their effectiveness in dye removal. The study also highlights the potential of photocatalytic technologies for real industrial wastewater treatment and the challenges in their widespread application.