Nuclear　power　plant　reactors　are　developing　towards　high　safety,　high　fuel　consumption　and　long　operating　cycles.　Zirconium　alloy　is　the　key　nuclear　fuel　rod　cladding　material.　The　cladding　tube　is　connected　with　the　end　plug　by　welding　to　seal　and　insulate　the　fuel　rods.　The　high　temperature　performance　of　zirconium　alloy,　especially　the　service　performance　of　its　welded　joints,　is　an　important　guarantee　for　the　safe　operation　of　the　reactor.　The　physical　and　mechanical　properties　of　commonly　used　zirconium　alloy　materials　were　introduced　in　detail.　The　zirconium　alloys　involved　include　domestically　produced　Zr-4　alloy,　N36　alloy,　and　CZ　alloy.　The　welding　process　method　of　the　zirconium　alloy　tube-end　plug　joint　was　summarized,　and　the　research　results　of　resistance　butt　welding　between　zirconium　alloy　fuel　rod　cladding　tube　and　end　plug　joint　were　mainly　described.　The　microstructure　characteristics　and　service　performance　of　zirconium　alloy　resistance　butt　welding　joints　were　summarized.　The　research　direction　of　resistance　butt　welding　of　cladding　tubes　and　end　plugs　was　prospected.　©　2022,　Editorial　Department　of　Journal　of　Beijing　University　of　Technology.　All　right　reserved.