Synthetic hernia repair mesh, also referred to as synthetic mesh, is a type of polymer material and was the first material to be used as a practical artificial prosthesis for the repair of various abdominal wall hernias. This was followed by the application of biological meshes. Biological meshes are decellularized scaffolds with regenerative properties; however, their regenerative capacity remains incomplete. Nevertheless, their introduction has promoted a transition in hernia repair from artificial prosthetic repair toward regenerative medicine. At present, various synthetic tissue-engineering scaffolds have become a major research focus in hernia and abdominal wall surgery. Compared with biological meshes, these scaffolds have more comprehensive regenerative potential and therefore possess substantial potential for clinical application.