Self frequency doubling crystal is a kind of crystal that integrates laser and nonlinear optical effect, which can realize wavelength conversion, amplitude modulation, switch, memory and other functions, and has become widely used in photoelectronic, optical communication, laser and other fields. However, the existing crystals such as Nd∶LiNbO3(Nd∶LN), Nd∶Na3La9O3(BO3)8(Nd∶NLBO), Nd∶La2CaB10O19(Nd∶LCB) have limited the further applications due to their inherent photorefractive effect, low second harmonic generation (SHG) output power, poor optical homogeneity and other shortcomings, so it is necessary to develop new laser self frequency doubling crystals. Due to the large nonlinear optics (NLO) coefficient, difficult to deliquesce, excellent optical, mechanical properties and so on, hunitite family borate crystals have become the focus of research in recent decades. In this paper, the crystal structure, growth methods, properties and development trend and other aspects of huntite family REM3(BO3)4 (RE is rare earth elements La-Lu and Y; M is Al, Ga, Sc) and LaxREyScz(BO3)4(RE=Gd, Y, Nd, Lu, Sm, Tb; x+y+z=3) co-substituted borate nonlinear optical crystals are introduced emphatively. The differences of ultraviolet (UV) cut-off edge, optical properties and nonlinear properties of crystals grown by different fluxes, atmospheres and methods are compared. By improving the growth technology and doping elements, self-frequency-doubled (SFD) crystals with good optical properties, remarkable nonlinear properties and extensive market application prospects can be obtained.