Metallic meshes (MMs) are promising for replacement of traditional brittle metal oxide conductors to serve as flexible transparent devices for applications such as environment, energy, display, and human–machine-environment interface. The diversities of MMs in materials, fabrication mechanisms, geometrics and performances extend their applications, however the systematization of this field is rarely concerned. Here, this article summarizes fabrication strategies of MMs in terms of using hard or soft templates, which produce regular-patterned meshes or random-patterned meshes, emphasizing large scale production technology free of templates would lead the development of MMs. Secondly, mechanisms and strategies are highlighted in terms of enhancement of MMs in optoelectronic properties, thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability that are crucial for adapting different application scenarios. Accordingly, the representative applications of MMs in filters, shielding materials, nanogenerators, supercapacitors, solar cells, light-emitting devices, electroluminescent devices, smart windows, thermal management equipment, sensors, and touch panels are introduced, reflecting their respective advantages in diverse applications. Finally, promising solutions to balance the optoelectronic properties and the stability and durability of MMs are proposed to adapt to complex and extreme applications. It is convinced that this review can provide a comprehensive understanding to guide and promote the future development of flexible optoelectronic devices.