As　the　lightest　metal,　the　reversible　insertion/extraction　properties　of　lithium　have　been　key　findings　in　lithium　metal　oxide　chemistry.　Lithium　has　been　widely　used　in　the　oxygen　evolution　reaction　(OER),　and　the　reaction　mechanism　of　lithium-mediated　metal　oxides　has　both　similarities　and　uniqueness　compared　to　typical　dual　metal　oxides.　Notably,　the　insertion/extraction　of　lithium　during　the　OER　is　also　crucial　for　the　construction　of　novel　surface　reconstruction　models.　This　review　aims　to　provide　the　concepts　of　general　OER　pathways　and　key　features　of　dual　metal　oxides　for　the　OER.　As　a　comparison　then　the　development　of　lithium　metal　oxides　for　the　OER　is　introduced　and　the　chemistry　underlying　lithium　metal　oxide　catalysts　is　unveiled.　This　review　also　examines　the　challenges　remaining　for　the　relevant　catalysts,　with　prospects　for　further　improving　their　OER　activities.