<p>Alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) is a key technology for hydrogen production, but the current industrial efficiency and dynamic operability are still limited by the performance of electrocatalysts. This review focuses on the design and fabrication of Ni-based catalysts and electrodes for practical AWE. It summarizes key strategies to address challenges under practical operation, including multi-interface engineering of Ni-based alloys, construction of hierarchical three-dimensional (3D) architectures, and optimization of multi-component systems. The scalable fabrication techniques, such as electrodeposition, plasma spraying, and magnetron sputtering, are also assessed with respect to their ability to produce robust, high-performance electrodes. Meanwhile, the evaluation of catalytic performance under near-industrial conditions is particularly emphasized. Furthermore, the integration of material innovation with scalable manufacturing is highlighted as a critical pathway to bridge the lab-to-industry gap and reduce the cost of hydrogen. These insights are expected to promote the development of highly efficient Ni-based catalysts for practical AWE in hydrogen production.</p>