To　achieve　privacy　protection　better　in　data　publishing,　data　must　be　sanitized　before　release.　Research　on　protecting　individual　privacy　and　data　confidentiality　has　received　contributions　from　many　fields.　In　order　to　grasp　the　development　of　privacy　preserving　data　publishing,　we　discussed　the　evolution　of　this　theme,　focused　on　privacy　mechanism,　data　utility　and　its　metrics.　The　privacy　mechanism,　such　as　k-anonymity,　l-diversity　and　t-closeness,　provides　formal　safety　guarantees　and　data　utility　preserve　useful　information　while　publishing　data.　Meantime,　we　discussed　social　network　privacy　and　location　based　service.　Finally,　we　made　a　conclusion　with　respect　to　privacy　preserving　data　publishing,　and　given　further　research　directions.　©　2011　IEEE.