Optical　microscopy　plays　a　key　role　in　the　fields　such　as　biology,　medicine,　materials　science,　and　precision　measurement,　providing　a　powerful　tool　for　exploration　in　microscales.　However,　traditional　optical　microscopy　systems　are　constrained　by　the　diffraction　limit,　with　a　maximum　resolution　of　approximately　half　of　wavelength　(λ/2).　In　recent　years,　super-resolution　imaging　beyond　the　diffraction　limit　has　attracted　attention　in　the　field　of　microscopy.　Dielectric　microsphere　lenses　have　demonstrated　the　capability　to　focus　the　incident　light　in　a　narrow　region　breaking　Abbe＇s　diffraction　limit　with　the　full　width　at　half　maximum　of　focal　spot　smaller　than　λ/2.　Microsphere　super-resolution　imaging　demonstrates　the　advantages　prior　to　other　alternative　techniques,　including　the　easy-to-use,　free　of　fluorescence　labels,　real-time　imaging,　and　compatibility　with　established　microscopy　systems.　It　opens　up　new　opportunities　in　academic　research　and　practical　applications.　In　this　review,　the　principle　of　microsphere　super-resolution　imaging　was　introduced.　Subsequently,　the　key　parameters　that　affect　imaging　capability　were　analyzed　in　details,　including　microsphere　optical　properties,　environmental　suitability,　and　controllability.　Finally,　the　applications　of　microsphere　super-resolution　imaging　in　biomedicine,　semiconductors,　and　nanomaterials　were　explored.　Furthermore,　the　major　challenges　to　development　of　microsphere　super-resolution　imagining　were　prospected.　©　2025　Beijing　University　of　Technology.　All　rights　reserved.