With the continuous development of terahertz technology, the use of terahertz spectroscopy and imaging to detect explosives offers unique advantages in the field of security inspection. It is a noncontact, nondestructive testing method that can complement traditional detection techniques and holds great potential for further development. This article summarizes the fingerprint spectrum data of explosives studied by various institutions domestically and internationally, examines the factors affecting explosive spectrum measurement, and elaborates on the application of terahertz spectroscopy in detecting trace and hidden explosives. Additionally, it addresses the detection of different media, including the human body and explosives, using terahertz imaging technology, and provides a reference for research on terahertz nondestructive explosive detection.