Optical computing is an emerging computing paradigm that utilizes optical signals for computation and information processing. Compared to traditional electronic computer, it offers significant advantages in terms of speed, parallelism, and energy efficiency. Since the 1940s, the construction of computing systems based on optical devices has become an important research direction in the field of information technology. Over the past few decades, research on optical computing has gone through ups and downs. With the maturation of photonic integration technology, the design and manufacturing of large-scale integrated photonics chips have become possible, providing the device foundation for optical computing and driving it towards practical applications. Currently, optical computing systems are beginning to play a role in various fields, such as artificial intelligence, combinatorial optimization, and quantum computing. This report aims to explore the historical background, current state, and future trends of the optical computing field from the perspective of development processes and prospects. It also briefly analyzes the challenges faced by optical computing and gives possible solutions.