Biomass is widely recognized as a potentially abundant source of renewable energy, chemicals, materials, and more, making it an excellent alternative to traditional energy sources. 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), also known as HMF, is a versatile and critical renewable platform compound. It has earned the nickname "sleeping giant" due to its vast range of potential applications that can be derived from biomass-derived carbohydrates. Currently, saccharides serve as the primary raw materials for HMF preparation. In this paper, we delve into the mechanism of HMF synthesis and discuss the research progress on the catalytic preparation of 5-HMF from various feedstock sources, including hexoses, polysaccharides, and other biomasses. Previous studies indicate that the presence of metal elements can enhance the conversion rate of glucose, whereas for fructose, the focus lies more on designing a non-homogeneous catalyst to improve the yield. The hydrolysis of polysaccharides into monosaccharides is a crucial step for conversion, emphasizing both polysaccharide hydrolysis and monosaccharide conversion. Finally, we provide an outlook on the future research direction of HMF feedstocks, as well as the design and development of catalysts, aiming to offer theoretical support for future indepth research.