Abstract: The innovation and development of joining technology play a key role in promoting the upgrading and transformation of the manufacturing industry and achieving the goal of “carbon peak” and “carbon neutrality”. As an innovative, efficient and energy-saving bonding method, spark plasma sintering (SPS) joining has attracted widespread attention at home and abroad in recent years, and is regarded as an important direction of joining technologies. This review introduced the basic forms, principles and characteristics of SPS joining, and summarized its latest progress in the field of metal, ceramic and metal/ceramic dissimilar joints. In addition, the shortcomings of current research as well as the potential development direction of SPS joining were pointed out. The related opinion provided a new idea for the manufacturing of the core components in the key fields and gave a reference for the development of new joining technology and equipment.