<p>Radiative cooling passively emits heat to outer space without energy input, offering promise for energy-efficient thermal management. It is an important solution to promote the low-carbon environmental protection strategy. With the continuous development of radiative cooling technologies, the material selection, preparation process, structural design, and application fields have also made more diverse progress. Therefore, this review aims to systematically introduce the fundamental concepts and underlying principles of radiative cooling. A summary of the commonly used materials for radiative cooling is provided. In addition, the advanced fabrication processes and structural designs of radiative cooling materials are further explored and discussed. Subsequently, the unique functions of radiative cooling materials are highlighted to enhance their applicability and usefulness across various fields. An overview of combining radiative cooling materials with different fields is also provided. In reality, these applications hold the potential to improve thermal management across a range of fields. Finally, it summarizes the shortcomings and great potential of radiative cooling materials in various fields. It also looks forward to the future, aiming to promote the progress and widespread adoption of radiative cooling technologies.</p>