<p>Tribotronics has garnered increasing attention in robotics, bionics, and neuroscience. This article presents a systematic overview of tribotronics for developing neuromorphic devices and their applications. Initially, the fundamental operational mechanisms of tribotronic transistor-based artificial synapses are elucidated, encompassing electrolyte-gate artificial synapses, floating-gate artificial synapses, and van der Waals heterostructure artificial synapses. Furthermore, applications of tribotronics in neuromorphic tactile perception and computing systems have been thoroughly examined. Finally, the challenges and future prospects of tribotronics were delineated. This article demonstrates the promising potential of tribotronics for advancing novel neuromorphic devices and artificial nervous network systems.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>