Coatings on reinforcements, fabrication methods of the coatings and their effects on the interface and properties of metal matrix composites are reviewed. Various coatings matrix composites are classified as wetting coating, barrier coating and regulating interfacial coating according to the functions of the coatings such as improving wettability, barriering interfacial reaction and regulating interfacial properties, etc. Fabrication methods including electroless plating, chemical vaPOr depositinn,sol-gel technique and other methods are briefly discussed. Effects of single coatings, double coatings and complex coatings on the interface and properties of metal matrix composites are also introduced.