Laser beams with evenly distributed or specifically modulated intensity profiles are required in many practical applications, thereby necessitating theoretical and experimental studies in laser beam shaping techniques. A variety of laser beam shaping methods, wherein the beam integration plays an important role as a result of its simple principle and wide applicability, have been proposed thus far. Therefore, it has great value in engineering. This study introduces the usage of optical components, such as prisms, mirrors, and micro-lens arrays, in beam integration systems. In this paper, the typical optical paths and recent progress are presented along with a discussion of the characteristics of these shaping methods.