Visual cryptography (VC) is a revolutionary encryption technique that ensures a secure distribution of sensitive visualized data by leveraging human visual perception for decryption, eliminating computational dependencies. Since its inception in 1994 by Adi Shamir and Moni Naor, it has undergone substantial change, addressing challenges such as pixel expansion, contrast loss, and limited applicability to color and grayscale images. Over the years, numerous variations of visual cryptography have been introduced, each designed to tackle specific challenges or meet distinct security requirements. While existing review papers on visual cryptography often focus on specific types or lack comprehensive comparisons between different schemes, this paper aims to bridge that gap. It presents a broad overview of the field, assisting new researchers in identifying potential research challenges and selecting appropriate visual cryptography techniques for their intended applications. Key developments, like extended visual cryptography (EVC), random grid-based VC, and progressive VC, have expanded their utility across various domains. Applications in biometric authentication, secure online banking, digital watermarking, QR code encryption, and military communications underscore its versatility. Despite its progress, challenges like pixel expansion and image quality persist, paving the way for future innovations in this field. This review aims to provide information on advancements in VC and inspire further research and development to improve its adoption and efficacy.