Abstract: The technological characteristics and principle of magnetically impelled arc butt welding were introduced. The research progress and application of magnetically impelled arc butt welding were reviewed on welding procedure test,welding performance test,welding quality evaluation and welding process simulation. The research result showed that there are many welding parameters in magnetically impelled arc butt welding,and the parameters affected each other. Different material thickness,solid or hollow would influence magnetic flux density,change arc velocity,and then affect welding quality. The magnetic flux density had a great influence on magnetically impelled arc butt welding,and it was only suitable for welding of magnetic materials,but hardly used in non-magnetic materials. Finally,the future research and development direction of magnetically impelled arc butt welding were prospected.