Self-centering　(SC)　structures　are　typical　seismic　resilient　structures,　owing　to　their　capabilities　of　recovering　deformation　and　dissipating　energy.　In　comparison　to　the　other　types　of　seismically　resistant　structures,　SC　structures　are　characterized　by　the　minimal　or　even　zero　post-earthquake　residual　deformation.　Such　characteristic　not　only　ensures　the　post-event　function　for　single　structures,　but　also　improves　the　seismic　resilience　for　the　whole　city.　Hence,　the　research　of　SC　structures　has　attracted　wide　attentions　among　the　earthquake　engineering　community.　By　exploring　a　variety　of　technologies　and/or　materials,　the　community　has　proposed　many　SC　structures　with　various　configurations　and　has　conducted　systematic　studies　in　terms　of　theoretical　analysis,　experimental　test,　numerical　simulation　and　seismic　design　method.　In　the　meantime,　several　projects　have　been　implemented　in　practice　at　home　and　abroad.　As　such,　this　work　reviewed　the　state-of-the-art　on　the　research　and　application　of　SC　structures,　summarized　the　important　findings　and　key　technologies　in　this　topic,　and　made　suggestions　for　future　work.　©　2021,　Editorial　Office　of　China　Civil　Engineering　Journal.　All　right　reserved.