Cyclodextrins (CDs), a class of cyclic oligosaccharides, are water-soluble, nontoxic, and commercial available with a low price, and their well-defined hydrophobic cavity can bind various organic/biological substrates. Through their molecular assembly mediated by organic, inorganic, or polymeric molecules as templates, CDs and their functional derivatives can be assembled to 1D supramolecular strands, wherein the functional groups of the CDs are closely located in a highly ordered manner. This structural feature greatly favors the cooperative effect of numerous functional groups in the supramolecular strand, as well as the interactions of the supramolecular strands with the multiple binding sites of substrates, especially biological substrates. Therefore, CD-based 1D supramolecular strands exhibit many material, biological, and catalytic functions, and these properties can be further improved through their secondary assembly. An overview of recent advances in the development of the construction and functions of CD-based 1D supramolecular strands and their secondary assemblies is given here. It is expected that the representative contributions described can inspire future investigations and lead to discoveries that promote the research of CD-based functional materials.