Nucleic　acids　are　natural　biopolymers　of　nucleotides　that　store,　encode,　transmit　and　express　genetic　information,　which　play　central　roles　in　diverse　cellular　events　and　diseases　in　living　things.　The　analysis　of　nucleic　acids　and　nucleic　acids-based　analysis　have　been　widely　applied　in　biological　studies,　clinical　diagnosis,　environmental　analysis,　food　safety　and　forensic　analysis.　During　the　past　decades,　the　field　of　nucleic　acids　analysis　has　been　rapidly　advancing　with　many　technological　breakthroughs.　In　this　review,　we　focus　on　the　methods　developed　for　analyzing　nucleic　acids,　nucleic　acids-based　analysis,　device　for　nucleic　acids　analysis,　and　applications　of　nucleic　acids　analysis.　The　representative　strategies　for　the　development　of　new　nucleic　acids　analysis　in　this　field　are　summarized,　and　key　advantages　and　possible　limitations　are　discussed.　Finally,　a　brief　perspective　on　existing　challenges　and　further　research　development　is　provided.[Figure　not　available:　see　fulltext.]　©　2020,　Science　China　Press　and　Springer-Verlag　GmbH　Germany,　part　of　Springer　Nature.