The Bloch surface wave (BSW) technology is a novel optical sensing technology based on all-dielectric structures, which possesses a low optical loss, a large phase jump and a high design flexibility. It has been recently widely studied and the different structure designs and detection schemes have been proposed and confirmed. The related technologies have been confirmed to be used for label-free biosensing, gas sensing, fluorescence detection, and so on. The research progress of BSW technology at home and abroad is reviewed, from the aspects of basic principle, sensing devices, detection systems and methods.