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Hydrogels are three-dimensional (3D) cross-linked polymer networks, which can absorb and retain large amount of water. Because of their tunable properties as well as their versatile fabrication methods, hydrogel materials have been applied in a wide range of biomedical and engineering applications, ranging from tissue engineering and regenerative medicine to wastewater treatment and soft robotics. The ability of hydrogels to absorb water arises from hydrophilic functional groups attached to the polymeric backbone, while their resistance to dissolution arises from cross-links between network chains. Many materials, both naturally occurring and synthetic, fit the definition of hydrogels.