Due to their unusual features in condensed matter physics and their applicability in optical and optoelectronic applications, three-dimensional Dirac semimetals (3D DSMs) have garnered substantial interest in recent years. In contrast to monolayer graphene, 3D DSM exhibits linear band dispersion despite its macroscopic thickness. Therefore, being a bulk material, it is easy to make nanostructures with 3D DSM, just as one normally does with metals such as gold and silver. Among 3D DSMs, cadmium arsenide (Cd₃As₂) is quite famous and considered an excellent 3D DSM due to its chemical stability in air and extraordinary optical response. In this review, advances in 3D DSM Cd₃As₂ fabrication techniques and recent progress in the photonics of 3D DSM Cd₃As₂ are given and briefly reviewed. Various photonic features, including linear and nonlinear plasmonics, optical absorption, optical harmonic generation, and ultrafast dynamics, have been explored in detail. It is expected that Cd₃As₂ would share an excellent tunable photonic response like graphene. We envision that this article may serve as a concise overview of the recent progress of photonics in 3D DSM Cd₃As₂ and provides a compact reference for young researchers.