Structured light field usually has unique optical characteristics in spatial distribution, and is widely used in the fields of microscopy, imaging, communication, and measurement. There are many kinds of structured light devices with different materials and modulation mechanisms. There are great differences in the performance indicators such as modulation speed, modulation depth, and spatial resolution. This paper introduces the working principle and performance characteristics of the main structured light devices (liquid crystal spatial light modulator, digital micromirror device, silicon-based optical phased array, LED array, etc.), analyzes their respective application ranges, and summarizes the typical applications of structured light technology in the fields of display projection, microscopic imaging, ghost imaging, three-dimensional imaging, lidar, etc. This paper systematically shows the latest research progress and cutting-edge technology applications of a variety of structured light devices, which will provide reference for researchers in related fields.