The quest for smart city development is gaining momentum globally. This is especially true for countries that are scientifically and environmentally sophisticated. This chapter explores overviews of smart cities, origins, importance, elements, issues, and future directions. The chapter sets the scene by putting urbanization from the Second Industrial Revolution to the present from a context regarding the development of the human population and innovation. Therefore, the setting for the emergence of smart cities is linked to this historical foundation and the fact that urban issues have increasingly become more complex, with climate change, infrastructure needs, and economic disparities as the embodiment.