Compared　with　the　in-plane　seismic　performance,　the　out-of-plane　seismic　performance　of　reinforced　concrete　shear　walls　is　weak　and　usually　neglected,　which　leads　to　an　inadequate　study　of　the　out-of-plane　damage　mechanism　of　shear　walls　and　a　lack　of　clear　protective　measures.　In　order　to　compare　the　similarities　and　differences　in　seismic　performance　of　reinforced　concrete　shear　walls　when　subjected　to　in-plane　and　out-of-plane　loads　in　different　directions　and　to　clarify　the　key　influencing　factors,　low　cyclic　loading　tests　were　carried　out　on　typical　shear　wall　specimens　in　both　in-plane　and　out-of-plane　directions.　The　moment-curvature　simulations　of　shear　wall　sections　in　both　in-plane　and　out-of-plane　directions　are　analyzed.　The　effects　of　parameters　such　as　axial　pressure　ratio,　wall　thickness,　height　to　width　ratio　and　concrete　grade　on　in-plane　and　out-of-plane　seismic　performance　were　analyzed　at　the　member　level　in　combination　with　finite　element　variable　parameter　analysis;　at　the　structural　system　level,　the　time　history　analysis　of　2　frame　shear　wall　structures　for　single　seismic　action　and　main-aftershock　sequence　is　established,　and　the　structural　damage　is　evaluated　through　the　maximum　story　drift　and　rotation.　The　results　reveal　that　the　out-of-plane　seismic　performance　of　shear　walls　is　significantly　weaker　than　their　in-plane　seismic　performance,　with　a　difference　of　1/20　similar　to　1/15　times　in　bearing　capacity,　where　wall　thickness　and　aspect　ratio　are　the　main　parameters　affecting　in-plane　and　out-of-plane　seismic　performance;　when　the　shear　walls　in　the　structure　are　subjected　to　seismic　action　in　the　out-of-plane　direction,　their　out-of-plane　direction　will　undergo　large　deformation　and　damage　will　occur　easily,　especially　in　the　Single　directional　wall　with　less　structure.　The　out-of-plane　nonlinear　analysis　of　the　cross-section　can　be　performed　more　accurately　and　quickly　by　using　the　new　principal　structure　model　proposed　in　this　manuscript　and　some　traditional　principal　structures.　In　the　seismic　design　of　shear　walls,　both　in-plane　and　out-of-plane　seismic　performance　should　be　ensured,　and　the　wall　thickness　and　height　to　width　ratio　of　shear　walls　should　be　reasonably　controlled.