The exploration of electrode materials is considered to be a crucial process affecting the development of lithium-ion batteries. However, the large-scale commercial application of the great mass of anode materials has been hampered by the challenges with conductivity and volume change. These problems can be solved by the combination of a carbon-matrix with anode materials, which has proven to be an effective strategy. This review aims to outline recent advances in carbon-matrix composite anodes based on different dimensions (0D, 1D, 2D, 3D and atomic scale) and functions, with the emphasis on the regulation of carbon distribution of composite anodes. Besides, the matrix forms and carbon sources have also been summarized. This review will provide some light on the future carbon-matrix electrode design trends for LIBs.