 Surface-enhanced Raman scattering, SCRS, 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 SCRS more accessible and affordable, leading to increased use of the technique. This review provides an overview of the most important aspects of SCRS, including the phenomena at the basis of the SCRS amplification, the measurement of the enhancement, and the key factors that determine it. Additionally, the excitation wavelength in its CRS experiment is discussed, along with several types of substrates and fabrication methods. Biomedical applications of SCRS are also presented, including direct and indirect protocols. The review is written in a non-technical manner, making it accessible to researchers from various backgrounds. This article was authored by Roberto Pilat, Raffaella Signorini, Christian Duranti, and others.