<p>Coagulation and flocculation are widely utilized in water and wastewater treatment due to their simplicity and effectiveness. Nonetheless, these methods have certain drawbacks, such as substantial sludge generation requiring further treatment and disposal, as well as long settling times, which necessitate improvements. The integration of magnetic nanoparticles has emerged as a promising approach to address these challenges. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements in magnetic coagulation, focusing on developments over the past five years. In general, three primary approaches to magnetic coagulation have been reported in the literature, including magnetic seeding coagulation, the dispersion method, and composite magnetic coagulants. These methods have significantly reduced settling times from 60–120&#xa0;min to 2–30&#xa0;min without compromising coagulation performance compared to conventional methods. Additionally, magnetic coagulation enhances floc compactness, resulting in lower sludge volume. The review further examines the application of magnetic coagulants in various water and wastewater contexts, key coagulation parameters, and relevant kinetic models. Ultimately, it discusses current challenges and provides insights into future research directions to advance magnetic coagulation technologies.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>