Stir bar sorptive extraction(SBSE) has been proposed about 20 years. It originates from solid phase microextraction, but has higher stationary phase volume, extraction capacity and extraction recovery. Stir bar sorptive extraction, as an efficient sample pretreatment method, is widely used for analytes enrichment in environmental samples, food samples, pharmaceutical samples and volatile substances. The core of the stir bar is the coating. Currently, there are commercial coatings, molecularly imprinted polymer coatings, and non-imprinted coatings. This paper introduces the basic principles of stir bar sorptive extraction. The development and application of various stir bar sorptive extraction coatings are systematically reviewed. Some novel stir bar sorptive extraction modes are also briefly introduced in this review. Finally, the development of stir bar sorptive extraction technology is summarized and prospected.