Laser polishing technology has the advantages of non-contact processing, no mechanical stress, high polishing accuracy, etc. It is especially suitable for surface processing of brittle and hard materials. This article describes the characteristics and mechanism of laser polishing process, introduces the influence of various parameters in laser polishing process on processing quality, and reviews the research results and current status of laser polishing technology for hard and brittle materials in various countries. The difference and characteristics of laser hot polishing and laser cold polishing, as well as the polishing principle and research progress are emphatically introduced.