Desalination is a very effective method for eliminating contaminants from contaminated water. To ensure that purification operations are effected favorably, a thorough understanding of thermodynamics and heat and mass transfer principles is essential. These developments would benefit hydrologists, membrane technologists, environmentalists, and industrialists engaged in the field of water purification technologies. The current study focuses on global energy data and the principles of operation of various desalination facilities. It also provides a comprehensive overview of the most recent published studies on a variety of solar-based desalination techniques. The technology improvement in water purification management is significant when compared to other energy-intensive combined solutions in water purification methods.