Laser-driven flyer is an efficient shock loading method, which has essential safety as a method of initiating explosives by laser. The reliability of initiating explosives by laser-driven flyer is closely related to the flight characteristics of flyer. The flying velocity and apparent morphology (planarity and integrity) of flyer are two important parameters for a successful initiation. Therefore, in this paper, the research progresses of laser-driven flyer technique were reviewed from two aspects of characterization means and influencing factors of flight properties of flyer. Focusing on laser-driven single layer foils, the methods of observation, characterization and reception were introduced. The research findings for the function law of influencing factors of flight performance in recent years were analyzed and discussed. The deficiencies existing in current researches were hackled and summarized and the future development directions, including the systematic physical model of flight process of laser-driven flyer and quantitative parameters of planarity and integrity of laser-driven flyer, were pointed out.