Tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS), as an advanced spectral detection method, has been widely used in the process diagnosis of combustion flow field and wind tunnel environment. It can realize multiple parameters accurate online measurement, such as flow field temperature, species concentration, and airflow velocity. This review introduces the basic principle of TDLAS and its development history in the field of flow field parameter measurement, summarizes the TDLAS flow field application examples in recent years such as scramjet engines, aviation turbine engines and supersonic wind tunnels, mainly focusing on high-precision measurement of flow velocity, continuous monitoring of combustion temperature and species, accurate inversion of field distribution in laboratory and outfield. The development level of laser absorption spectroscopy flow field diagnostic technology, and the latest research progress and related problems that still exist are summarized at the same time. Finally, the application prospect and future trend of TDLAS technology in flow field diagnosis area are anticipated.