Spectral beam combining (SBC) uses dispersive elements or dichroic elements to make multi-channel lasers of different wavelengths overlap in the near-field and far-field at the same time, so as to combine the laser beam with single aperture output. It is one of the technical approaches to achieve high power and high beam quality laser output, which has attracted great attention of researchers. Especially in the past decade, with the continuous improvement of the performance of grating and other combining components, the spectral beam combining laser output with high power and high beam quality has played an important role in industry, national defense and other fields, and has a wide application prospect. The research progress of SBC was reviewed for the two typical laser working medias of semiconductor laser and fiber laser. The current mainstream scheme and research status of high power SBC at home and abroad were summarized. In addition, combined with our research works on SBC, the development trend of SBC in recent years were shown, and the future development prospect of SBC technology was forecasted.