@angular/material is a UI component library for Angular applications that follows the Material Design guidelines set by Google. It provides a wide range of reusable and customizable components, such as buttons, forms, navigation elements, and more, enabling developers to create visually appealing and responsive user interfaces. The library is designed to work seamlessly with Angular, making it easier to implement Material Design in Angular applications.

While @angular/material is a popular choice for building Angular applications, there are several alternatives worth considering:

• @angular/cdk (Component Development Kit) is a library that provides a set of tools and utilities for building custom Angular components. It includes features such as accessibility, drag-and-drop functionality, and overlays, which can be used to create complex UI components. While @angular/material provides pre-built components, @angular/cdk allows developers to build their own components with the necessary foundational tools, making it a great choice for those who want more control over their UI design.
• ngx-bootstrap is a popular library that provides Bootstrap components for Angular applications. It allows developers to use Bootstrap's styling and components while leveraging Angular's features. If your project already uses Bootstrap or if you prefer Bootstrap's design system, ngx-bootstrap is an excellent alternative to @angular/material, offering a familiar set of components and styles.
• primeng is another comprehensive UI component library for Angular that offers a wide range of components, including data tables, charts, and form controls. Primeng is known for its rich set of features and customizable components, making it suitable for building complex applications. If you are looking for a robust library with a diverse set of components and themes, Primeng is a strong contender.

For a detailed comparison of these libraries, check out the following link: Comparing @angular/cdk vs @angular/material vs ngx-bootstrap vs primeng.