Fluorine‐based chemistry is widely used in commercial battery technology, from primary batteries consisting of Li/CF_x to binders for electrodes in secondary lithium‐ion batteries. Fluorine‐based compounds are also formed during operation for both battery configurations as discharge products such as LiF or as components of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layers on electrodes. Herein, the fluorinated carbons or CF_x detailing the commercialization of the first Li/CF_x cells are discussed‐ the understanding of how performance is correlated to composition or x, the various methods to synthesize CF_x compounds, the correlation between the nature of the C-F bonds and electrochemical performance, the role of theoretical studies in such endeavors, the use of CFx in alternative battery chemistries and the wide range of techniques available to probe either CF_x compounds individually or CF_x compounds in devices under electrochemical conditions. A picture of the field from which future directions can be derived is provided.