Understanding　the　link　between　molecular　composition　and　macro-mechanical　performance　of　asphalt　binder　is　crucial　for　the　selection,　modification　and　performance　prediction　of　asphalt　binder.　As　one　of　the　chemical　analysis　technologies,　gel　permeation　chromatography　(GPC)　provides　an　efficient　and　accurate　approach　to　separate　asphalt　molecules　based　on　the　size　difference.　This　review　summarized　the　application　of　GPC　in　characterizing　asphalt　materials.　The　basic　principle,　test　methods　and　data　analysis　were　introduced　firstly.　Then　the　applications　of　GPC　in　asphalt　materials　in　terms　of　fraction　detection,　modification　process　characterization,　aging　characterization,　recycled　asphalt　evaluation,　and　performance　prediction　were　systematically　reviewed.　Finally,　several　suggestions　were　made　for　the　future　application　of　GPC　technology　in　asphalt　material　analysis.　This　review　potentially　provides　a　guide　for　researchers　to　understand　the　performance　of　asphalt　binders　from　the　perspective　of　molecular　weight　distribution,　and　further　promotes　the　development　of　renewable,　sustainable　and　durable　asphalt　materials　for　pavement　construction　and　rehabilitation.　(C)　2021　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.