Rotating instability（RI）can be observed when high-loaded compressors operate at near-stall conditions. Studying RI is of great significance for reducing the working noise of the compressor，mitigating flow-induced vibration，and ensuring stable operation of aircraft engines. This paper reviews the observations of RI and discusses the corresponding features and characteristics. In addition，the origins and the mechanisms of RI are comprehensively studied. The causes of RI are thus classified into blade tip clearance flow，vortex shedding，flow shearing，and other aspects. Furthermore，the numerical approaches in simulating RI are reviewed，and the effects of flow control methods on RI are evaluated. The research progress of RI is finally summarized，and the outlook is further proposed.