This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of research on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)-based photocatalysts. g-C3N4 has emerged as a promising photocatalyst due to its unique band structure, excellent stability, and environmental friendliness. The review summarizes various strategies to enhance the photocatalytic performance of pristine g-C3N4, including creating heterojunctions, doping with non-metallic and metallic materials, co-catalyst loading, tuning catalyst morphology, metal deposition, and nitrogen-defect engineering. It highlights the characterization techniques used to understand the structural and physicochemical properties of g-C3N4-based catalysts, emphasizing their applications in photocatalytic degradation and hydrogen production. The review also investigates the effect of operational parameters on catalytic activity and efficiency, and discusses the photocatalytic pathways and reaction mechanisms involving g-C3N4-based photocatalysts. Additionally, it identifies research gaps and challenges in the field, presenting prospects for future development and utilization of g-C3N4-based photocatalysts. Overall, the review offers valuable insights into the synthesis, characterization, applications, and prospects of g-C3N4-based photocatalysts, guiding future research and technological advancements in this rapidly growing field.This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of research on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)-based photocatalysts. g-C3N4 has emerged as a promising photocatalyst due to its unique band structure, excellent stability, and environmental friendliness. The review summarizes various strategies to enhance the photocatalytic performance of pristine g-C3N4, including creating heterojunctions, doping with non-metallic and metallic materials, co-catalyst loading, tuning catalyst morphology, metal deposition, and nitrogen-defect engineering. It highlights the characterization techniques used to understand the structural and physicochemical properties of g-C3N4-based catalysts, emphasizing their applications in photocatalytic degradation and hydrogen production. The review also investigates the effect of operational parameters on catalytic activity and efficiency, and discusses the photocatalytic pathways and reaction mechanisms involving g-C3N4-based photocatalysts. Additionally, it identifies research gaps and challenges in the field, presenting prospects for future development and utilization of g-C3N4-based photocatalysts. Overall, the review offers valuable insights into the synthesis, characterization, applications, and prospects of g-C3N4-based photocatalysts, guiding future research and technological advancements in this rapidly growing field.