The LaBr3(Ce) detector is a new type of scintillator detector which offers better energy resolution and higher efficiency for high-energy gamma ray in comparison with traditional detectors, for instance, NaI(Tl) detector. The LaBr3(Ce) detector has merits of a high scintillation light output with a fast decay time, a high temporal and spatial resolution, good temperature characteristics and good radiation resistance. So it was researched and applied widely since it was commercially available years ago. This paper reports not only its above-mentioned properties but also its typical application studies. In the nuclear resonance fluorescence, the detector benefitted the nondestructive assay (NDA) method by shortening the detecting time while the energy resolution was still excellent. In the prompt gamma neutron activation analysis, the advantages of it were shown by comparing with the BGO detector. In the nuclear medicine imaging, the detection with the LaBr3(Ce) detector in the myocardial perfusion in mice with sufficiently precision. It had a better ability to distinguish between tumors and normal tissues than NaI(Tl) detector. In the space radiation detection, the detector was used to detect the rays with high energy, and it shows excellent radiation resistance. In neutron detection, it has competitive properties in low neutron energy measurement. After investigating the applications of the detector, we confirm the excellence of this detector and affirm it has a good prospect in the further.