Abstract: Shape memory alloy (SMA) cables features flag-shaped hysteresis arising from superelasticity, which possesses excellent self-centering capability, good energy dissipation, and high force capacity, demonstrating broad application prospects in earthquake engineering. Systematically summarizes the recent research work conducted by the authors’ group and provides a comprehensive overview of SMA cable applications in self-centering devices and seismic-resilient structures. Experimental investigations on anchorage systems, cyclic stability, temperature effects, fatigue performance, stress relaxation, and creep behavior of SMA cables are summarized, revealing their mechanical mechanisms and time-dependent evolution, and highlighting the roles of prestress retention and training strategies in SMA cables. The innovative designs and performance optimization of SMA cable-based self-centering bracing systems are presented, including pure SMA-cable brace (SMAB), SMA-viscoelastic self-centering brace (SVSCB), SMA-friction self-centering brace (SFSCB), and two-stage self-centering brace (TSSCB). Their configurations, working mechanisms and mechanical behavior are discussed, and corresponding macro-mechanical and degradation models are developed. Furthermore, seismic performance of steel frame structures equipped with SMA cable-based braces is reviewed, covering shaking table tests, numerical simulation, resilience improvement under rare earthquakes, and collapse resistance under mainshock-aftershock sequences. Overall, this study establishes a multi-scale research framework spanning “material-component-structure”, and provides theoretical foundations together with experimental evidence for the engineering application and codified design of high-performance seismic systems employing SMA cables.