Virtually-imaged phased array (VIPA) is an optical element with a large angular dispersion which can be used to make optical filters with high resolution and dispersion compensators. 2D spectral imaging can be achieved by a combining VIPA with a diffraction grating, which is a great improvement in spectral processing area. According to 2D imaging principle, the newest application of VIPA is introduced in detail, such as it can be used to develop optical filters with high resolution and high signal noise ratio and perform complicated 2D spectral process and spectral imaging.