With similar properties to liquids and gas, supercritical fluid is a green solvent. It has unique physical properties and thermodynamic properties. Supercritical fluid extraction is a new kind of clean and efficient green separation method with green technology,which is a research hotspot at home and abroad. The basic principle, developing process and characteristics of supercritical fluid extraction were reviewed, and the application of supercritical fluid extraction in food industry,pharmaceutical industry, natural-spices field and environmental science were also summarized, so as to provide scientific data for further application of supercritical fluid extraction technology.