Microchip lasers have compactly simplified construction,longer coherent length,higher lightness,single-frequency and single-longitudinal-mode output,so they become one of focuses in the field of solid state lasers. A summary on technical characteristics and applications of microchip lasers are presented. Especially,recent achievements and applications on microchip lasers are described,the restricted factors of the microchip laser developments are analyzed and the future of microchip lasers is discussed.