Composite electrode position is a surface protection technology which can be used to replace hard chromium coating. The technical advantages of composite electrode position were summarized, including environmental protection, low cost, simple operation, large degree of freedom and good controllability of coating properties. At the same time, the particle and matrix types of composite electrode position were summarized, and the main performance evaluation indexes and influencing factors were concluded. On this basis, the research progress of composite electrode position technology in recent years, including the mechanism of composite electrode position and particle deposition process, was reviewed emphatically. The composite particle size, crystal structure, surface condition and plating process parameters such as current waveform, current density, pulse current, solution temperature, solution pH, additional force field, heat treatment, etc. were selected respectively to explore the influence of factors on the process of composite electrode position, cathodic polarization degree, morphology, structure, composition, hardness, wear resistance and other performance indexes and the influence laws were summarized. Finally, the development direction of composite electrode position technology is prospected.