<p>In recent years, breakthroughs in high-power continuous wave laser technology have promoted the development of laser-protective materials and relevant protective mechanisms. In this regard, this paper systematically reviews the research progress of laser protective material system and its ablation damage mechanism, aiming at providing a theoretical basis for the oriented design of new laser protective materials and regulation of damage threshold, and at the same time, providing decision-making reference for the key breakthrough direction of the subsequent research. Firstly, this paper briefly introduces the damage mechanism of laser on materials. Secondly, this paper focuses on the research progress of component design, performance characteristics, and application scenarios of laser protection materials according to the protective mechanisms: highly reflective, heat-insulating and ablative materials. Among them, the highly reflective materials mainly consist of metal (e.g. Al, Cu, etc.), oxide (e.g. typical La_1−xSr_xTiO_3+δ), and composite reflective systems. The thermal insulating materials rely on the high-temperature stability of silica aerogel, zirconia, and other low-thermal-conductivity materials. The ablation materials summarize the ablation behaviors and quality-loss mechanisms of C/C composites, ceramic-based composites, and resin-based composites. Thirdly, the research status of laser protective coatings and thin-film materials is further reviewed. Finally, the reviews gives the design strategies of laser protective materials (such as component regulation, structure optimization), and proposes some problems that need to be paid attention to and solved in the future research of laser-protective materials, offering the outlook for the development of laser protective materials.</p>