  Channel coding plays a pivotal role in ensuring reliable communication over
wireless channels. With the growing need for ultra-reliable communication in
emerging wireless use cases, the significance of channel coding has amplified.
Furthermore, minimizing decoding latency is crucial for critical-mission
applications, while optimizing energy efficiency is paramount for mobile and
the Internet of Things (IoT) communications. As the fifth generation (5G) of
mobile communications is currently in operation and 5G-advanced is on the
horizon, the objective of this paper is to assess prominent channel coding
schemes in the context of recent advancements and the anticipated requirements
for the sixth generation (6G). In this paper, after considering the potential
impact of channel coding on key performance indicators (KPIs) of wireless
networks, we review the evolution of mobile communication standards and the
organizations involved in the standardization, from the first generation (1G)
to the current 5G, highlighting the technologies integral to achieving targeted
KPIs such as reliability, data rate, latency, energy efficiency, spectral
efficiency, connection density, and traffic capacity. Following this, we delve
into the anticipated requirements for potential use cases in 6G. The subsequent
sections of the paper focus on a comprehensive review of three primary coding
schemes utilized in past generations and their recent advancements: low-density
parity-check (LDPC) codes, turbo codes (including convolutional codes), polar
codes (alongside Reed-Muller codes). Additionally, we examine alternative
coding schemes like Fountain codes and sparse regression codes. Our evaluation
includes a comparative analysis of error correction performance and the
performance of hardware implementation for these coding schemes, providing
insights into their potential and suitability for the upcoming 6G era.
