Nighttime　light　remote　sensing　is　a　unique　optical　remote　sensing　technology　that　can　record　ground　object　radiation　information　at　night　that　cannot　be　obtained　by　daytime　remote　sensing.　Given　that　artificial　light　in　urban　areas　is　the　main　source　of　stable　nighttime　light,　nighttime　light　remote　sensing　images　have　been　proven　to　reflect　the　variation　in　human　activities　at　night.　At　the　same　time,　they　have　extensive　coverage,　are　time　intensive　and　readily　available,　and　have　widely　been　a　proxy　for　urban　studies　on　the　multi-scale　or　long-term　analysis.　The　application　related　to　the　nighttime　light　data　is　growing　at　present.　However,　most　reviews　have　focused　on　the　preprocessing　and　potential　application　of　nighttime　light　data,　and　the　summary　of　nighttime　light　data　in　urban　studies　is　still　limited.　In　this　study,　we　reviewed　nighttime　light-related　research　in　three　aspects:　multi-scale　analysis　of　the　urban　spatial　structure,　multi-scale　estimation　of　urban　socio-economic　indicators,　and　research　in　urban　public　security.　Three　challenges,　namely,　the　application　of　nighttime　light　data　with　a　short　time　interval,　the　generation　of　longer　nighttime　light　time　series,　and　the　quantitative　validation,　are　also　discussed　to　explore　the　potential　applications　in　the　future.　©　2021,　Science　Press.　All　right　reserved.