Metal　nanoclusters　(MNCs)　can　be　synthesized　with　atomically　precise　structures　and　molecule　formulae　due　to　the　rapid　development　of　nanocluster　science　in　recent　decades.　The　ultrasmall　size　range　(normally　＜　2　nm)　endows　MNCs　with　plenty　of　molecular-like　properties,　among　which　photoluminescent　properties　have　aroused　extensive　attention.　Tracing　the　research　and　development　processes　of　luminescent　nanoclusters,　various　photoluminescent　analysis　and　characterization　methods　play　a　significant　role　in　elucidating　luminescent　mechanism　and　analyzing　luminescent　properties.　In　this　review,　it　is　aimed　to　systematically　summarize　the　normally　used　photoluminescent　characterizations　in　MNCs　including　basic　parameters　and　methods,　such　as　excitation/emission　wavelength,　quantum　yield,　and　lifetime.　For　each　key　parameter,　first　its　definition　and　meaning　is　introduced　and　then　the　relevant　characterization　methods　including　measuring　principles　and　the　revelation　of　luminescent　properties　from　the　collected　data　are　discussed.　Then,　it　is　discussed　in　details　how　to　explore　the　luminescent　mechanism　of　MNCs　and　construct　NC-based　applications　based　on　the　measured　data.　By　means　of　these　characterization　strategies,　the　luminescent　properties　of　MNCs　and　NC-based　designs　can　be　explained　quantitatively　and　qualitatively.　Hence,　this　review　is　expected　to　provide　clear　guidance　for　researchers　to　characterize　luminescent　MNCs　and　better　understand　the　luminescent　mechanism　from　the　measured　results.