Precise timing has become a necessary technology for many large-scale advanced scientific facilities, and timing precision is a crucial for these instruments to achieve their ultimate goals. This study reviews recent advances in timing technologies, including timing characterization for different kinds of sources (lasers, microwaves, and X-ray pulses) and large-scale timing synchronization systems based on free-space links and optical fibers. Furthermore, the primary limitations of timing systems and the future research prospects are discussed herein.