Abstract: As key components of large composite structures, joints play important roles to ensure the integrity of composite structures. It is very difficult to analyze the strength and failure modes of composite joints due to their complex nonlinear coupling factors. Therefore, there is a need to monitor, diagnose, evaluate and predict the structure health state of composite joints. Information obtained through real-time monitoring will be used to determine the health condition of structures and the response to external loads, and further predict possible defects and failures that may occur in the future so that actions can be taken at the appropriate period of time to ensure the safety and service of composite structures to achieve maximum economic benefits. Taking the aerospace composite joints as examples, we first briefly analyzes the damages and failure modes of different composite joints, including bonded joint, mechanical joint and hybrid joints. Then the art of state of structural health monitoring (SHM) technology progess for composite joints is reviewed, including wave propagation method, impedance method, intelligent coating monitoring method, comparative vacuum monitoring method, fiber optical sensing monitoring method and hybrid integration approaches. Finally the development trend and the challenges of structural health monitoring of aircraft composite joint are discussed.