Owing to the increasing demand for all-solid-state LiDAR applications in autonomous driving technology, the conventional mechanical LiDAR featuring a large size, a heavy weight, and high power consumption can no longer adapt to the current application scenarios. Hence, optical phased-array technology has received attention as a new approach for realizing all-solid-state LiDAR. Optical phased array is a type of electronically controlled scanning-beam-pointing control technology. It offers non-mechanical deflection ability, a wide field-of-view, low power consumption, and lightweight excellent performance, satisfying the application requirements of all-solid-state LiDAR well. This paper first introduces the basic operating principle of optical phased arrays and reviews the recent research progress in optical phased arrays based on different materials both in China and abroad. Subsequently, the advantages and disadvantages of optical phased arrays based on different materials are compared. The key technologies required for the further development of high-performance optical phased arrays to be used in all-solid-state LiDAR are highlighted. Finally, the future development of optical phased array technology is considered and prospected.