Cartilage damage, frequently resulting from trauma or degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis, presents a substantial clinical challenge due to cartilage’s limited regenerative capacity. Current treatments, including microfracture and autologous chondrocyte implantation, often lead to the formation of fibrocartilage, which lacks the mechanical properties of native hyaline cartilage and deteriorates over time. Cartilage tissue engineering (CTE) emerges as a promising strategy to address these limitations by integrating cells, scaffolds, and bioactive molecules to restore cartilage function. Biomaterials play a crucial role in CTE by providing structural support, mimicking the extracellular matrix (ECM), and guiding cell proliferation and differentiation. Natural materials like collagen and hyaluronic acid offer excellent biocompatibility but suffer from inadequate mechanical strength, while synthetic polymers such as polycaprolactone (PCL) and poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) provide mechanical integrity but lack bioactivity. Composite scaffolds, combining natural and synthetic components, offer a balanced solution. Innovations such as 3D printing, electrospinning, and the functionalization of scaffolds with bioactive molecules have advanced scaffold design, allowing for enhanced tissue regeneration and zonal cartilage architecture replication. Despite these advancements, challenges like achieving tissue integration, controlling scaffold degradation rates, and ensuring clinical scalability persist. Future directions in CTE focus on smart biomaterials, personalized tissue engineering, and overcoming regulatory hurdles to translate these technologies into effective therapies for cartilage repair.