Restriction free cloning(RFC) is a simple and universal DNA cloning technology developed in recent years, which can accurately insert the target DNA sequence into any position of any plasmids. It is a novel DNA recombination method that is not limited by restriction endonuclease, efficiency of ligase, length of target DNA sequence or vector sequence. Compared with other cloning methods, RFC technology has irreplaceable advantages. On the basis of summarizing the researches of RFC at home and abroad, this manuscript systematically introduces the action principle, characteristics and research progress of RFC technology and discuss its application value in molecular biology and synthetic biology.