<p>Endophytes establish persistent symbiotic relationships within healthy plant tissues, with certain strains demonstrating robust lignocellulose degradation capabilities, positioning them as promising biocatalysts for efficient biomass conversion. These endophytes present significant advantages in sustainable straw utilization, biosynthesis of valuable bioactive compounds, advancement of bioenergy production technologies, and the development of bio-fertilizers. This review systematically evaluates recent advancements in lignocellulose-degrading endophytes (LDE) research, addressing critical scientific aspects including strain selection, identification, host and strain distribution characteristics, enzymatic system properties, and industrial applications. Strain screening incorporates comprehensive phenotypic, enzymatic, and genomic analyses, while identification relies on integrated morphological, metabolic, and molecular genetic markers. The primary LDE producers are predominantly Ascomycota fungi and Proteobacteria bacteria, which preferentially colonize dicotyledonous plants through diverse symbiotic mechanisms. Lignocellulose degradation is mediated by a sophisticated enzymatic system, whose activity can be enhanced through carbon source induction and strain optimization strategies. Co-cultivation systems have demonstrated synergistic effects in improving degradation efficiency. Furthermore, endophytic metabolites exhibit broad applicability, facilitating lignocellulose breakdown in agricultural residues to yield high-value natural products and renewable energy sources, et al. The degradation efficiency of endophytes is intrinsically linked to their evolutionary adaptations and functional genomic modules. Recent studies indicate that a “dual carbon” strategy has significantly enhanced research on LDE, thereby promoting sustainable agricultural residue conversion and contributing to carbon neutrality objectives.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>