Gas　metal　arc　welding　(GMAW)　is　widely　used　in　the　fields　of　precision,　high-efficiency　welding,　and　wire　arc　additive　manufacturing.　The　significance　of　the　research　on　metal　transfer　is　to　fundamentally　improve　the　stability　and　welding　quality　of　the　GMAW　process　so　that　the　process　has　high-quality　and　high-efficiency　properties　at　the　same　time,　which　is　suitable　for　modern　precision　welding　and　rapid　additive　manufacturing.　To　achieve　precise　control　of　heat　transfer,　mass　transfer,　and　force　transfer　in　the　welding　process,　it　is　necessary　to　optimize　and　control　the　metal　transfer　process.　This　paper　briefly　introduces　the　basic　principles　and　process　characteristics　of　several　current　advanced　metal　transfer　control　processes.　Based　on　the　difference　in　metal　transfer　control　method　or　welding　process,　it　is　divided　into　three　categories:　additional　external　force-driven　metal　transfer,　precision　regulation　based　on　the　current　waveform,　hybrid　welding,　and　multi-electrode　arc　welding　control.　Based　on　the　development　of　current　welding　processes,　the　future　trends　of　droplet　transfer　control　and　welding　systems　are　prospected.