With the implementation of ‘Made in China 2025’ strategy, the requirements for processing accuracy and efficiency of advanced tools in manufacturing field are continuously improved. Brazed diamond tools have attracted extensive attention from academia and industry because of the good interfacial bonding characteristics between diamond and filler alloys. How to effectively enhance the interfacial bonding strength between the diamond and the matrix and to reduce the thermal damage of the diamond during the brazing process is the current research focus of brazed diamond tools. In this paper, the research progress on the interfacial bonding mechanisms, thermal damage mechanisms of brazed diamond and failure inhibition strategies of brazed diamond tools are elaborated, and the future research direction of brazed diamond tools is suggested, which is expected to provide reference for the design and development of high⁃performance machining tools. © 2022 Cailiao Daobaoshe/ Materials Review. All rights reserved.