<p>Microplastics have emerged as a significant environmental concern, particularly in marine ecosystems. The detection and quantification of microplastics pose considerable challenges due to their small size, diverse composition, and widespread distribution. In recent years, significant progress has been made in developing detection methods to enhance our understanding of microplastic pollution. This mini review provides an overview of the state-of-the-art detection methods for microplastics, including their principles, advantages, limitations, and applications. Finally, we explore emerging in situ monitoring technologies that hold promise for real-time detection of microplastics at sea.</p>