The　toxicity　of　lead　and　instability　are　crucial　factors　hindering　the　commercialization　of　lead-based　halide　perovskite　materials.　In　recent　years,　copper　has　been　considered　as　one　of　the　promising　alternatives　to　lead　in　perovskites　due　to　its　abundance,　environmental　friendliness,　and　unique　electronic　structure.　A　bunch　of　new　copper-based　perovskite-like　materials　have　been　synthesized　and　their　physical　properties　and　chemical　stabilities　have　been　explored.　However,　there　is　still　a　lack　of　a　comprehensive　and　systematic　overview　regarding　copper-based　perovskites　and　perovskite-like　halides　from　the　molecular　level　perspective.　Therefore,　focusing　on　the　molecular　structure,　this　review　provides　a　summary　of　the　crystal　structures,　electronic　properties,　and　application　principles　of　copper-based　all-inorganic　and　organic-inorganic　hybrid　perovskites　and　perovskite-like　halides.　Furthermore,　we　have　discussed　the　limitations　of　copper-based　perovskites　and　perovskite-like　halides,　as　well　as　provided　our　outlook　on　their　future　development　directions.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd