As service conditions become more challenging and production complexity increases, there is an increasing demand for enhanced comprehensive performance of ceramic/metal heterostructures. At present, brazing technique has been widely utilized for ceramic-metal heterogeneous joints. However, the residual stress relief in these welding joints is complicated and necessary. Because metals and ceramics have different properties, especially their coefficients of thermal expansion. Welding joints exhibit large residual stresses during the cooling process. The relatively high residual stresses may significantly degrade the joint properties. For this issue, four alleviation routes were reviewed: optimization of process parameters, setting an intermediate layer, surface structure modulation and particle-reinforced composite solder. The states and distribution patterns of residual stress in ceramic-metal brazed joints were summarized, and the generation and detection of residual stress were introduced. Eventually, upcoming prospects and challenges of residual stress research on ceramic/metal heterostructures were pointed out.