Abstract: The spectral analysis and spectral imaging technology combined with chemometrics methods can determine the content of different components in a substance. With the continuous development of soybean industry in China, spectral analysis and spectral imaging technology have been applied to many aspects of soybean quality detection technology. Firstly, this paper briefly introduced the principle of spectral analysis and spectral imaging technology. Secondly, we summarized the technical detection technology, which including soybean detection state, spectral preprocessing method, spectral feature extraction method and common model analysis method. Finally, this paper focused on the application results of spectral analysis and spectral imaging technology in quantitative analysis and qualitative discrimination in the field of soybean quality detection. We conclude the research progress on quantitative determination of moisture, protein, fat and other functional nutrients, summarized the research progress on qualitative inorganic analysis of soybean variety identification, transgenic soybean identification, plant diseases and insect pests identification and qualitative analysis of soybean appearance quality. In addition, we also discussed the research emphases and shortcomings of spectral analysis and spectral imaging technology in the field of soybean quality detection, and prospected the future development trend from two aspects of research and application.