Abstract: The consumption of wood adhesive in China is huge. However, the main wood adhesive based on formaldehyde is still prevalent. In recent years, environment friendly adhesives such as non-formaldehyde adhesives and biomass adhesives have developed rapidly. Herein, the recent research and application of wood adhesives including urea-formaldehyde resin adhesives, phenolic resin adhesives, melamine-formaldehyde resin adhesives, protein adhesives, lignin adhesives, starch adhesives, tannins adhesives, isocyanate adhesive, emulsion adhesives and pyrolysis biological oil adhesives were reviewed. The development trend and the research direction of wood adhesives were also prospected.