Adaptive optics (AO) is the technology for correcting the dynamic optical wavefront errors. This article reviews the development process of AO in recent 50 years including: the first stage of development, progresses of United States in the period of "Star War", and the applications of AO in the fields of high resolution imaging of ground-based telescopes, laser systems, especially for inertial confinement fusion (ICF), and ophthalmology. Moreover the development trends of AO are also presented. For each technical innovation, the first published paper of the innovator is cited as far as possible. Giving a development skeleton of AO is the purpose of this paper.