Ta and Ta alloys have been used in high-tech fields such as aerospace, metallurgical chemical industry and nuclear industry due to their excellent chemical stability, high temperature mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and processing and forming ability. In view of the huge application potential of Ta and its alloys, scholars have carried out extensive research on it, and have achieved rich research results. According to the existing research results, this paper systematically summarizes the material system types and application fields of Ta alloys, the existing alloy preparation methods and their advantages and disadvantages, the mechanical properties of the main alloy systems and their influencing factors, the high temperature protective coating system and its preparation methods. Finally, the future research directions are prospected according to the shortcomings of the current research.