As one of vital and environment-friendly surface treatment technologies applied on the steel surface, Zirconium salt conversion coating technology is expected to completely replace phosphate and chromate conversion technologies. The zirconium salt conversion coating exhibited high corrosion resistance which was almost comparable with that of conventional phosphate and chromate conversion coatings. In addition, it exhibited excellent adhesion to steel and organic coating. Research progress and achievements on zirconium salt conversion technologies applied on steel surface at home and abroad were reviewed in aspects including basic principle of zirconium salt conversion, selection of zirconium salt, preparation method, conversion process parameter control, coating morphology and structure, coating anti-corrosion behavior and adhesion to subsequent coating. Zirconium conversion film was usually prepared in dipping method and its conversion solution was mainly composed of hexafluorozirconic acid and its salts. In order to obtain high-quality conversion film, process parameters as follows should be controlled: [Zr4+] should be 3%~5%, pH 3.5~4.5, t?90 s and temperature 20~35 ℃. Zirconium conversion coating was generally a 100~350 nm thick two-layered structure consisting of nano particles, small nodules and clusters. Anchoring effect of the structure could significantly improve the adhesion between substrate and subsequent coating. However, the zirconium salt conversion technology is still confronted with some challenges in the practical industrial production applications due to its underdeveloped conversion mechanism and unstable conversion process. Therefore, thorough investigation of film-forming mechanism and process stability were the focus of research on zirconium salt conversion film in the future.