The photoelectrochemical sensors,with light as excitation source and photocurrent or photovoltage as detection signal,have been widely used in the analysis of environment,food,medicine and other fields for their characteristics of fast response,high sensitivity and simple equipment.The preparation,principles and classification of photoelectrochemical sensors are introduced.They include light addressing potentiometric sensors and amperometric photoelectrochemical sensors,in which amperometric photoelectrochemical sensors are widely used due to their excellent photoelectric performance,low detection limit,low cost and easy processing.Their applications in the fields of metal ions,organic pollutants,nucleic acids,proteins and cells are described in this manuscript.The development prospect for photoelectrochemical sensors is also expected.