Surface　roughness　was　an　important　indicator　in　the　evaluation　of　a　manufacturing　process　and　a　product＇s　quality　because　it　can　directly　affect　the　wear　resistance,　sealing　performance,　and　corrosion　resistance　of　parts.　The　surface　quality　was　more　demanding　than　ever　before　with　the　development　of　modern　science　and　technology.　Traditional　two-dimensional　surface　roughness　measurement　and　characterization　can　hardly　meet　the　requirements,　and　therefore,　three-dimensional　measurement　and　characterization　was　becoming　a　research　hotspot　because　it　can　comprehensively　and　truly　reflect　the　surface　topography.　This　study　reviewed　the　development　history　of　areal　surface　roughness,　investigated　the　state-of-the-art　areal　surface　roughness　parameters　and　standards,　systematically　analyzed　the　relationship　between　surface　topography　and　functional　characteristics,　and　summarized　the　applications　of　areal　surface　roughness　parameters　in　manufacturing,　biomedical,　tribology,　materials　science,　etc.　As　the　research　advances　(for　example,　the　further　study　of　traceability　and　repeatability　of　areal　surface　topography　measurements,　the　parameters　characterization　system,　and　the　maturity　of　additive　manufacturing)　and　measurement　techniques　are　developed,　three-dimensional　surface　roughness　parameters　were　sure　to　be　completed　and　popularized　in　the　future.　It　will　better　combine　with　the　actual　functions　to　predict　the　working　performance　and　ensure　the　surface　quality　of　the　workpiece.　©　2018,　Science　Press.　All　right　reserved.