With the development of ultraviolet detection technology, oxide materials showing the unique advantages in the field of ultraviolet detection, which the traditional detectors didn’t possess, and becoming a hot research topic in recent years. It is a fast-developing dual-purpose detection technology after the infrared detection technology. However, the wide applications of oxide-based ultraviolet detectors still face challenges. In this paper, we have summarized the applications and development histories of the ultraviolet detection technology at home and abroad. The crystal structures, properties and progresses in devices of three kinds of metal oxide ultraviolet materials are summarized and discussed. In the end, the problems in the research of the oxide-based ultraviolet detection materials and devices are analyzed, and the development of the oxide-based ultraviolet detection technology is summarized and prospected.