High-energy　storage　devices　are　in　demand　for　the　rapid　development　of　modern　society.　Until　now,　many　kinds　of　energy　storage　devices,　such　as　lithium-ion　batteries　(LIBs),　sodium-ion　batteries　(NIBs),　and　so　on,　have　been　developed　in　the　past　30　years.　However,　most　of　the　commercially　exploited　and　studied　active　electrode　materials　of　these　energy　storage　devices　possess　a　single　phase　with　low　reversible　capacity　or　unsatisfied　cycle　stability.　Continuous　and　extensive　research　efforts　are　made　to　develop　alternative　materials　with　a　higher　specific　energy　density　and　long　cycle　life　by　element　doping　or　surface　modification.　A　novel　strategy　of　forming　composite-structure　electrode　materials　by　introducing　structure　units　has　attracted　great　attention　in　recent　years.　Herein,　based　on　previous　publications　on　these　composite-structure　materials,　some　important　scientific　points　focusing　on　the　design　of　composite-structure　materials　for　better　electrochemical　performances　reveal　the　distinction　of　composite　structures　based　on　average　and　local　structure　analysis　methods,　and　an　understanding　of　the　relationship　between　these　interior　composite　structures　and　their　electrochemical　performances　is　discussed　thoroughly.　The　lithiation/delithiation　mechanism　and　the　remaining　challenges　and　perspectives　for　composite-structure　electrode　materials　are　also　elaborated.