A biomaterial was defined as „a nonviable material „used in a medical device. Healing and regeneration of soft and hard tissues have been the main focus of biomaterials and therefore they must meet some additional criteria. To determine the biocompatibility of biomaterials with human body very detailed tests and analyzes are needed. Biocompatibility is one of the key characteristics of biomaterials, however, defining this term is not straight forward. The definition of biocompatibility has been evolved throughout the years as biomaterials are being used for various purposes in different locations in human body. Also, biocompatibility is an ability of a material to perform its desired function without causing any local or systemic adverse response in the recipient of the material. Five main groups of materials that can use in medicine today are: polymers and polymer composites, metals and their alloys, ceramics, glass and fibers. The application of these materials in medicine depends on their properties. Some are used as implants and some as medical devices. This paper presents and describes the basic types of biomaterials and their application for medical purposes.