Abstract: Cereal β-glucans are a type of linear glucose polymers containing oligosaccharides which are formed by the linkage of β-D-glucopyranosyl units via (1→4)-β-linkage and separated by single (1→3)-β-linkages. They were mainly found in barley, oat and wheat as an important water-soluble dietary fiber. Cereal β-glucans had been widely used in food and cosmetic industries. Due to their significantly physiological activities such as hypoglycemic activity, hypolipidemic activity, immunomodulating and intestinal health, thus, this review focused on the extraction and purification, structural characterization, content measurement, physicochemical properties, bioactivities and applications of cereal β-glucans with the aim of providing reference for further studies.