 Abstract carbon dots, CDS, synthesized from small organic molecules, have gained significant interest due to their unique properties, including low-cost, ease-of-surface modification, high photoluminous, water solubility, and low toxicity. These features make them ideal for use in various applications, such as photocatalysis, drug gene delivery systems, bio-imaging, chemical and biological sensing, photodynamic and photothermal therapies. The synthesis of CDS can be divided into two main approaches, top down, where larger structures are broken down into nanoparticles, and bottom up, where CDS are formed from smaller organic molecules. This review provides an overview of the synthetic strategies used to produce CDS from small organic molecules, with particular focus on hydrothermal-solvothermal treatment, microwave irradiation, ultrasonic treatment, and thermal decomposition. Additionally, the potential applications of CDS in the fields of bio-imaging, drug gene delivery systems, fluorescence-based sensing, photocatalytic reactions, PDT, and PTT are discussed. This article was authored by Honorud Sharma and Joydeep Das. We are article.tv, links in the description below.