Docking-based　inverse　virtual　screening　(IVS)　has　attracted　much　attention　in　the　drug　discovery　field,　due　to　its　applications　in　target　identification,　drug　repositioning,　and　side　effects/toxicity　prediction.　First,　molecular　docking　methods　and　protein　target　database　were　introduced　in　details.　Then,　currently　available　web　servers　were　briefly　reviewed.　A　number　of　applications　in　the　field　of　drug　design　were　also　presented.　Finally,　challenges　of　the　methods　were　discussed.　©　2019,　Editorial　Department　of　Journal　of　Beijing　University　of　Technology.　All　right　reserved.