 Surface-enhanced Raman scattering, SERS, is a powerful analytical technique used in chemical, material, and life sciences due to its intrinsic features such as high sensitivity and fingerprint recognition capabilities. Technological advances have made SERS more accessible and affordable, leading to increased use of the technique. This review provides an overview of the most important aspects of SERS, including the phenomena behind the amplified signal, the factors affecting the signal strength, the choice of excitation wavelength, and several applications in the biomedical field. The review also explains the concepts in a simple and intuitive manner, making it suitable for researchers from various backgrounds. This article was authored by Roberto Pilat, Raffaella Signorini, Christian Duranti, and others.