A framework for performance characterization of radiative cooling materials. The ultimate cooling performance of a radiative cooling material is governed by the interplay between its intrinsic microstructure enabled spectral properties and extrinsic environmental factors, such as solar irradiance and ambient temperature. Consequently, establishing a unified and reproducible characterization standard is crucial for the objective assessment of different materials. Wang and colleagues pioneered a comprehensive experimental and theoretical evaluation framework. This framework orchestrates a complete evaluation workflow, which seamlessly links the characterization of key optical properties, controlled indoor thermal testing, real-world outdoor performance validation, and cross-validation with theoretical models. The establishment of this standardized protocol provides a quantifiable and comparable performance benchmark for the field, significantly promoting its scientific rigor and technological advancement.