As one optimization technique for modulation format, constellation shaping technique greatly improves the flexibility, nonlinear compensation and error performance of traditional coding modulation scheme. It can achieve high spectral efficiency and signal transmission close to Shannon’s limit without increasing the transmission power and complexity of the system, which has been widely used in many fields. The research status and the latest advances in the fields of constellation shaping technology schemes are introduced, especially the type, method, architecture and other aspects. The basic principle, performance comparison and related applications of probabilistic shaping with arithmetic coding are mainly discussed and the current problems and future trends of probabilistic shaping techniques are summarized.