The tool wear not only affects the surface quality and machining accuracy of the workpiece, but also frequent tool change will reduce the machining efficiency and increase the production cost. Studying the mechanism of tool wear, the factors of affecting the tool wear and the modeling technology of tool wear prediction, can provide technical support for reducing the tool wear. The research progress of tool wear and its prediction modeling technology in cutting process was reviewed. Firstly, based on the research progress of tool wear mechanism in recent years, the manifestations and characteristics of several main tool wear mechanisms were analyzed respectively. Secondly, the influence of cutting parameters, tool geometric parameters, tool and workpiece material properties and processing methods on tool wear in the cutting process were discussed, and the modeling method and form of tool wear prediction were summarized and analyzed. Finally, combined with the development concept of green energy-saving in manufacturing industry and the computer technology of high-speed development, the future development direction for the machining methods to reduce tool wear and tool wear prediction modeling technology were pointed out.