Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have emerged as a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to the abundance of sodium resources and lower cost. However, SIBs still face challenges in energy/power densities, fast-charging capability, and cyclic stability. Electrode materials, electrolytes, conductive agents, binders, and separators are crucial for SIB performance. This review summarizes recent progress in SIBs, focusing on anode and cathode materials, electrolytes, and reaction mechanisms. The review highlights the design strategies, synthesis methods, active sites, and reaction mechanisms of SIB materials. It also discusses the influence of electrolytes, conductive agents, binders, and separators on electrochemical performance. The review emphasizes the importance of improving SIBs for practical applications, including the development of high-performance materials and understanding reaction mechanisms at the atomic and molecular levels. The review also discusses the challenges in SIB development and proposes future research directions. The review covers the latest advancements in SIBs, including the design and synthesis of cathode materials such as layered transition metal oxides, polyanionic compounds, and Prussian blue analogues (PBAs), as well as anode materials. The review also discusses the reaction mechanisms of SIBs and the impact of various factors on their performance. The review concludes that further research is needed to improve SIBs for practical applications.Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have emerged as a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to the abundance of sodium resources and lower cost. However, SIBs still face challenges in energy/power densities, fast-charging capability, and cyclic stability. Electrode materials, electrolytes, conductive agents, binders, and separators are crucial for SIB performance. This review summarizes recent progress in SIBs, focusing on anode and cathode materials, electrolytes, and reaction mechanisms. The review highlights the design strategies, synthesis methods, active sites, and reaction mechanisms of SIB materials. It also discusses the influence of electrolytes, conductive agents, binders, and separators on electrochemical performance. The review emphasizes the importance of improving SIBs for practical applications, including the development of high-performance materials and understanding reaction mechanisms at the atomic and molecular levels. The review also discusses the challenges in SIB development and proposes future research directions. The review covers the latest advancements in SIBs, including the design and synthesis of cathode materials such as layered transition metal oxides, polyanionic compounds, and Prussian blue analogues (PBAs), as well as anode materials. The review also discusses the reaction mechanisms of SIBs and the impact of various factors on their performance. The review concludes that further research is needed to improve SIBs for practical applications.