Solar energy, as the most important renewable energy source, has many advantages such as abundant reserves, wide distribution, cleanliness and safety. Therefore, the research on solar energy utilization technologies has important implications of enriching energy structure, reducing environmental pollution, and optimizing resource allocation. And as a note, the photo-thermal conversion is the simplest and most efficient way to achieve direct utilization of solar energy. This paper briefly introduces the significance, advantages and disadvantages of solar energy, and comprehensively analyzes the basic types, absorption mechanisms and the latest research results of selective absorbing coatings for indirect solar collectors. Finally, the existing problems, challenges and prospects for the development of spectrally selective absorbing coatings used for solar collectors are also commented.