In response to herbivores, leaves and roots of plants could emit herbivore-induced plant volatiles（HIPVs）which could manipulate tritrophic interactions through attracting parasitoids and predators of herbivores, and affecting behavior of herbivores and physiology of neighbouring plants. In the light of recent findings, the elicitor, early signal, signal transduction, biosynthesis, emission, composition and ecological functions of HIPVs were reviewed in this paper. Finally, research directions in this field in the future were suggested.