Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is the most common cervical pathology that causes damage to the spinal cord in adults and leads to progressive neurological deficits with degeneration in all structures of the spine. By early detection of the disease and application of an appropriate treatment approach, undesired neurological damage can be prevented and the health related quality of life can be increased. Many anterior, posterior or combined approaches have been described for CSM, and it is necessary to decide which approach will be determined on a patient-by-patient basis. Anterior approaches provide direct decompression of the pathology which causes spinal cord compression. Moreover, vertebral reconstruction with bone graft or cage after discectomy or corpectomy also contributes to the correction of the kyphotic deformity that often accompanies CSM. In addition, the distraction force generated by the applied arthrodesis also provides an increase in the height of the foramen. On the other hand, the anterior approach has complications such as neurological and vascular injury, esophageal damage, respiratory distress, implant failure, adjacent segment degeneration and inadequate decompression. Surgeries performed with the anterior approach can basically be examined in three groups: anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion, and hybrid surgeries. However, alternative surgical techniques have also been reported to maintain spinal stability and provide maximum decompression. In this article, we have compiled the most frequently applied surgical techniques with the anterior approach in CSM.