Understory vegetation, as an indispensable part of forest ecosystems, plays an important role in maintaining forest biodiversity, promoting forest ecosystem processes and multiplying functions. The study on understory vegetation has been carried out for more than 100 years, and a large amount of work has been done with regard to the forest community classification, regeneration and succession, nutrient cycling and stable productivity. The paper reviewed the recent advances on the study of understory vegetation in terms of its definitions, components, ecological functions and succession. And we also discussed how to carry out integrative research on the effect of succession and interference on the undergrowth vegetation composition, the possible response of undergrowth vegetation to climate change and how to apply the research results of undergrowth role and function to the construction and management practices of near-nature plantation.