Reconfigurable metasurfaces composed of subwavelength structural units can dynamically adjust the propagation characteristics of light waves, such as phase, amplitude and polarization. They exhibit significant application potential across various fields. In order to realize the reconfigurability of metasurfaces, materials with special properties are usually utilized to make them react dynamically under specific external stimuli, such as electric field, magnetic field, heat, light, etc. Compared to traditional optical components, reconfigurable metasurfaces offer greater flexibility and customizability, making them highly advantageous in high-resolution imaging, dynamic displays, intelligent sensing, optical computing, and wireless communication. With the rapid development of information technology, optical technology, and nanofabrication techniques, reconfigurable metasurfaces can provide new design ideas for next-generation intelligent optical devices. First, this article introduces the basic principles and control mechanisms of reconfigurable metasurfaces, including electrical control, thermal control, phase-change material-based control, optical field control, chemical control, mechanical control and so on. Reconfigurable metasurfaces based on different manipulation mechanisms have unique advantages, but they inevitably come with certain limitations. The control mechanism based on the electro-optic effect has the advantages of fast response and high control precision, but it often requires complex circuit design. Magnetic field control, which relies on the magneto-optic effect or spin effect, adjusts the material's refractive index or optical rotation characteristics via an external magnetic field. This method is typically used in magneto-optical devices and offers the advantage of no physical contact; however, its response speed is slower, and it requires a high-intensity magnetic field, which limits its potential for miniaturization. The thermo-optic effect can achieve optical modulation over a wide wavelength range, but its response speed is relatively slow and cannot meet the demands of high-speed dynamic applications. Phase-change material-based metasurfaces excel in achieving multi-state dynamic control, but the complexity of material processing and long-term stability still need further optimization. Mechanical control is suitable for large amplitude and multi-degree-of-freedom changes in optical characteristics, but there are challenges in terms of micro-nanoscale integration and repeatability.In addition, the article provides a detailed overview of the research progress of reconfigurable metasurfaces in dynamic imaging and display, optical computing, and wireless communication. By precisely controlling light waves, reconfigurable metasurfaces can adjust parameters such as focal length and wavefront during dynamic imaging, showing broad application prospects in dynamic imaging systems that require real-time optical performance adjustments. As a new type of optical element with reprogrammable characteristics, reconfigurable metasurfaces can be used in optical computing to perform mathematical calculations or logical operations, such as Fourier transforms, differentiation, and integration, enabling the processing of optical signals. They can also be further applied in neural networks to independently perform complex tasks such as image recognition and deep prediction. In wireless communication systems, reconfigurable metasurfaces enhance signal modulation and transmission capabilities through their dynamically adjustable properties, such as dynamically controlling the phase, amplitude, and polarization states of metasurface units, enabling dynamic beam shaping, multiplexing, and demultiplexing. Finally, the article summarizes the challenges that reconfigurable metasurfaces face in practical applications, such as response speed, precision, multifunctional integration, stability, and large-scale manufacturing. It further envisions the future research directions of reconfigurable metasurfaces, which will focus on improving the response speed and precision of materials, optimizing structural design to achieve more diversified functional integration, and exploring low-cost, high-stability manufacturing processes. Additionally, the integration of artificial intelligence and advanced computational methods will further drive the intelligent design and dynamic control capabilities of metasurfaces, enabling more complex and precise optical operations. With continuous advancements in materials science, manufacturing processes, and computational technologies, reconfigurable metasurfaces will play an increasingly important role in fields such as optical communication, intelligent sensing, and dynamic display.