Infrared　and　visible　image　fusion　combines　the　infrared　thermal　radiation　information　and　visible　detail　information.　The　image　fusion　technique　has　facilitated　development　in　numerous　fields,　including　production,　life　sciences,　military　surveillance　and　others,　and　has　become　a　key　research　direction　in　the　field　of　image　technology.　According　to　the　core　idea,　fusion　framework　and　research　progress　of　image　fusion　methods,　the　fusion　methods　based　on　multi-scale　transformation,　sparse　representation,　neural　network,　etc.　are　elaborated　and　compared,　and　the　application　status　of　infrared　and　visible　light　image　fusion　in　various　fields　and　the　commonly　used　the　evaluation　index.　The　most　representative　methods　and　evaluation　indicators　are　selected　and　applied　to　six　different　scenes　in　order　to　verify　the　advantages　and　disadvantages　of　each　one.　Finally,　the　existing　problems　of　infrared　and　visible　image　fusion　methods　are　experimentally　analyzed　and　summarized,　the　development　prospects　of　infrared　and　visible　image　fusion　technology　are　presented.　©　2021,　Editorial　Board　of　Journal　of　Infrared　and　Laser　Engineering.　All　right　reserved.