Surface-enhanced Raman scattering is an ultra-sensitive molecular detection technology, and the exploration of its mechanism and the improvement of sensitivity, uniformity and stability have always been significant challenge to researchers. In this paper, the development of surface-enhanced Raman scattering mechanism and its research progress, and thus review the mechanism, research status and existing problems of single metal substrate, molybdenum disulfide substrate and metal/molybdenum disulfide composite substrate are summarized; The preparation method of the molybdenum disulfide substrate including hydrothermal/solvothermal method, micromechanical peeling method, chemical meteorological deposition method, and preparation method of metal/molybdenum disulfide composite substrate are briefly introduced, in which the electrochemical method, thermal reduction method, seed-mediated growth method, and electron beam lithography method are covered, and the advantages and disadvantages of the above preparation methods are evaluated; The research progress of the applications of molybdenum disulfide and its metal composite substrates in food testing, biomedicine, environmental pollution monitoring, etc. are briefly overviewed The surface-enhanced Raman scattering study is extended to other transition metal binary compounds and their metal composite structures. Therefore, the metal/molybdenum disulfide composite substrate expands the types of surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates, thereby making up for the deficiency of low reproducibility, poor stability, and weak adsorption. Moreover, it has the advantages of fluorescence quenching effect, high sensitivity, wide detection range, and it can be combined with on-site rapid separation technology, and thus has widespread application prospects. Finally, the shortcomings of surface-enhanced Raman scattering technology and prospects for its development are also pointed out.