Pressurized vessels and pipelines are widely used in the energy industry, military industry, scientific research and many other fields, and their transportation media are usually accompanied by flammable and explosive characteristics, so the importance of ensuring their safe operation is self-evident. The study of the safety of pressure vessels and pipelines has always been an important topic. In this paper, this paper first introduces the origin and latest achievements of the latest common standards and specifications based on the principle of "fit for use" at home and abroad, gives the latest progress of key technologies used in defect assessment, and the research status of important factors affecting the assessment results, and briefly introduces the application status of the assessment technology of defective containers and pipelines. Finally, the existing problems of the current defect assessment technology in China are proposed, and some suggestions are put forward for the development direction of the safety assessment of pressure vessels and pipelines with defects.