BACKGROUND: Scaffold materials serve as platforms that provide space and structure, playing a crucial role in the regeneration of cartilage tissue. Scholars from around the world are exploring different approaches to fabricate more ideal scaffold materials. OBJECTIVE: To review the design principles and preparation methods of cartilage scaffolds, and to further explore the advantages and limitations of various preparation methods. METHODS: Literature searches were conducted on the databases of CNKI, WanFang Data, PubMed, and FMRS from 1998 to 2023. The search terms were “cartilage repair, cartilage tissue engineering, cartilage scaffold materials, preparation” in Chinese and English. A total of 57 articles were ultimately reviewed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The articular cartilage has a unique structure and limited self-repair capacity after injury. Even if self-repair occurs, the newly formed cartilage is typically fibrocartilage, which is far inferior to normal articular cartilage in terms of structure and mechanical properties. It is difficult to maintain normal function and often leads to degenerative changes. Currently, the design and fabrication of scaffold materials for cartilage repair need to consider the following aspects: biocompatibility and biodegradability, suitable pore structure and porosity, appropriate mechanical properties, and bioactivity. (2) Research on the preparation of cartilage scaffolds has made significant progress, continuously introducing new preparation methods and optimization strategies. These methods have their advantages and disadvantages, providing more possibilities for customized preparation and functional design of cartilage scaffolds according to specific requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]