Infrared spectroscopy (IR) has been widely used in the study of asphalt materials as a fast and accurate tool for the detection and analysis of organic materials. To understand the current status of research on infrared spectrum method in asphalt materials at home and abroad, the basic principle and test method of infrared spectroscopy, asphalt material source identification, selection and dosage of the modified asphalt modifier in, and the application of recycled asphalt, asphalt aging analysis such as hot topic research progress is reviewed and summarized. The analysis results show that the infrared characteristic absorption peak of asphalt molecular structure is mainly composed of saturated hydrocarbon, aromatic hydrocarbon, carboxyl, hydroxyl compounds, nitrogen compounds and sulfur absorption peaks, different brand or source of infrared spectra of asphalt material characteristic absorption peak position, relative strength is very different, according to the characteristic peak of asphalt oil source can be realized brand identification and asphalt authenticity identification; For modified asphalt with different modifier content, the position of molecular absorption peak of matrix asphalt and modifier polymer is roughly the same. Further analysis and treatment can realize the determination of modified asphalt modifier content according to the difference of absorbance or area of the absorption peak. In the infrared spectrogram of aged asphalt, the characteristic peaks of carbonyl group (1700cm^-1) and sulfoxide group (1030cm^-1) both increase with the extension of aging time, reflecting the degree of asphalt aging. However, the number of carbonyl and sulfoxyl functional groups in the infrared spectra of the recycled asphalt decreased significantly, which provided a basis for the recovery and utilization of the waste asphalt mixture.