As　a　class　of　novel　organic　functional　dye,　squaraine　dyes　and　their　derivatives　are　gaining　significant　interest　in　the　field　of　chemistry.　Due　to　the　unique　D-A-D　structure　and　the　strong　absorption　and　emission　characters　in　the　visible　and　near　infrared　region,　squaraine　has　been　used　as　the　chemosensor　in　the　ion　recognition.　This　article　covers　the　most　recent　studies　in　the　development　and　application　of　squaraine　dye-based　chemosensors.　The　molecule　design,　recognition　mechanism　and　application　in　both　cation　and　anion　recognition　has　been　introduced.　The　recognizing　process　of　heavy　metal　ions　such　as　Hg2+　.,Cu2+　and　Zn2+,　as　well　as　alkali　metal　ions　and　alkali　earth　metal　ions,　have　been　mainly　reviewed.　Moreover,　the　developing　prospect　for　the　further　research　has　been　expected.