Abstract: In recent years, national authorities and associated departments have intensified their efforts to combat the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard products. Such products not only hinder the nation’s economic growth but also pose significant risks to the interests of brands and consumers. The emergence of anti-counterfeiting materials has become a cornerstone in advancing scientific anti-counterfeiting measures. Through a brief narrative, this paper categorizes pivotal anti-counterfeiting materials, delves into their underlying principles, and discusses their potential applications, with a special emphasis on optical anti-counterfeiting materials.

Key words: Anti-counterfeiting materials, Anti-counterfeiting mechanism, Classification, Application