Abstract: Virtual synchronous machine technology, which simulates the electromechanical transient characteristics of synchronous generators, enables the power supply or load that adopt a converter with a number of its external characteristics, including inertia, damping, frequency and voltage regulation. With the rapid increase of the installed power capacity using clean energy, the technology has become one of the research focuses of grid-connected technology nowadays. In this paper, we summarized the recent researches about virtual synchronous machine technology both at home and abroad, introduced related concepts from its classification, function and control techniques, and presented its main application with the combination of practical engineering from four aspects, photovoltaic virtual synchronous generator, wind turbine virtual synchronous generator, energy storage virtual synchronous machine and load virtual synchronous machine. Especially, we discussed about the parameter design and stability because the power electronic equipment is the key to implementing the technology. Finally, we concluded its limitation and development prospects.