Chemical design and realization of superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are driven by most appropriate performance of the products in distinct applications. Speed and final level of absorption as well as retention efficiency depend on the ionic composition of the solutions to which the polymer is typically exposed. Requirements originating from applications in sanitary products and healthcare have dominated ever since, and further target fields, including agriculture, and in cement-based building materials. Superabsorbers that are available are mostly based on acrylate chemistry, and these are synthesized through free-radical copolymerization in bulk/solution or inverse suspension processes. Comonomers can be integrated into feature-specific effects, for instance, sulfonic or phosphonic, in addition to or instead of carboxylate groups, cationic sites to form amphoteric polymers, nonionic but hydrophilic moieties to dilute the density of the ionic density along the polymer chains, or biologically active motives. The primary products are commonly processed further by elaborate postpolymerization treatments. Most important is surface postcross-linking to minimize the stickiness of powdery superabsorbent products and the so-called gel-blocking effect in superabsorber beds. Research has recently focused on biopolymers and bioderived main monomers and cross-linkers. Polysaccharides, such as cellulose, starch, alginate, chitin, and chitosan, play most important roles, and proteins have also been utilized. These natural substances can chemically be slightly modified or grafted by acrylate-based network structures. A broad range from distinctly biobased superabsorbers to hybrids from petrochemical and biogenic sources can be generated.