Abstract: Compared to other traditional breakwaters, the floating breakwater can be applied to the conditions with relatively deep water, weak foundation, macro tidal range and requirements of water exchange, and has broad application prospects in many fields, such as harbors, coastal works, ocean engineering, and marine culture, etc. In the study, the main research achievements and research progress of the floating breakwaters are summarized based on plenty of references. Calculation methods of wave transmission coefficient of the floating breakwaters, including theoretical derivation, empirical formulas and numerical simulations, are summarized and analyzed in the study. The research and development conditions of the structural types of the floating breakwaters are introduced and the wave attenuation mechanism and effectiveness of different structual types including pontoon type, raft type and their improved structure types are focused. The engineering application cases of the floating breakwaters both at home and abroad are introduced, and the main reasons of their application limits are also analyzed. Finally, a few deficiencies in the present research are pointed out, and future development directions and some key problems are put forward to further promote the engineering application of the floating breakwaters in the future.