Abstract: Coal tar pitch, as a high-carbon content, low-cost, and abundantly available byproduct of coal chemical industry, exhibits unique advantages in the development of high-performance anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This paper systematically reviews the research progress of coal tar pitch in the field of LIB anode materials. Firstly, three storage mechanisms based on lithium ions in carbon based materials are elucidated. By integrating multi-scale computational simulations and machine learning algorithms, the lithium storage behavior and structure-activity relationship of carbon materials can be systematically revealed; Discussed the molecular composition characteristics of coal tar pitch and its influence on electrochemical performance; Subsequently, the two main methods for preparing pitch-based porous carbons (template method and activation method) are elaborately described. Furthermore, the characteristic and research progress of electrode preparation using these materials are deeply explored. Focusing on the practical application of pitch-based porous carbons in LIBs, this paper evaluates their advantages in energy storage and identifies key scientific challenges that need to be addressed for scalable applications. Additionally, from the perspectives of material structure and performance optimization, this review systematically discusses strategies such as pore structure modulation, surface coating, and surface chemical property modification, elucidating their mechanisms for enhancing lithium storage performances. Finally, the paper provides a perspective on the future development of pitch-based porous carbons and offers targeted recommendations for improvement in multiple dimensions, including materials design theories, electrochemical mechanism research, and process technology optimization. These insights are expected to provide valuable references for advancing the practical application of coal tar pitch-derived carbon materials in LIBs.