Due to their strategic significance on hydrocarbon accumulation, salt structures have become the focus of attention in structural analysis of the petroliferous basins. Based on the numerous references, this paper aims to give an overview of the research advances on salt structures from seven key aspects, which involve the geological settings, rheological properties, structural styles, balanced cross sections, physical and numerical modeling, formation mechanisms and influence on hydrocarbon accumulations. In addition, the history and present situation of the study on salt structures in