Sound coding is a critical component of cochlear implants, responsible for transforming acoustic signals into electrical stimulation patterns that activate the auditory nerve. This process begins with sound capture via an external microphone, followed by digitization, noise reduction, and the computation of stimulation patterns delivered through intracochlear electrodes. While various sound coding strategies have been developed to enhance speech perception, progress has plateaued, and cochlear implant users still experience limited performance compared to normal-hearing individuals. These limitations stem from both biological and technological constraints, including the coarse electrode-nerve interface, current spread in the cochlear fluids, neural health variability, and hardware restrictions such as limited number of electrodes and stimulation flexibility. Additionally, the nature of artificial electric stimulation of the auditory nerve limits temporal neural processing, constraining pitch perception and binaural processing. Recent advances in medical imaging, novel impedance measurements, and electrophysiological measurements with the cochlear implant electrodes enable more precise characterization from the periphery to the central auditory system, paving the way for future individualized sound coding strategies. Furthermore, the integration of artificial intelligence in the sound coding strategy and the emergence of next generation implanted electronics including integrated digital signal processors, memory, and adaptive stimulation—promise to revolutionize cochlear implants. Future cochlear implant systems will be able to dynamically interpret neural responses and deliver personalized stimulation, offering new opportunities to improve speech understanding, sound localization, and music appreciation for cochlear implant users.