Fracture is the key factor of getting the high and stable yield in the tight sandstone reservoir. Based on the systematic research and the recent study result of domestic and foreign tight sandstone gas reservoir fractures, the fracture types and its formation mechanisms are comprehensively described. The identification methods of fractures in tight sandstone reservoirs were in detail described in the aspects of geology, logging, seismic and experimental data. Through methods of the observation of field outcrops, cores and thin sections, as well as the structure curvature, the conventional and special logging, the fracture parameters of reservoir fracture densities, opening angles, occurrences, systems and orientations can be obtained. Fracture distribution forecasting methods mainly include geological analysis, analysis of tectonic curvature, p-wave anisotropy analysis, seismic coherence analysis, inclination discontinuity fracture detection technology and tectonic stress field simulation technology, etc. At present, the study of fractures in tight sandstone reservoirs of marine facies and transitional facies (within the coal-bearing formations) under the complex tectonic evolution background is relatively little in China, the differences of fractures’ filling mechanism and micro-fractures quantitative identification is lack of systematic research, the precision of seismic identification of fractures remains to be further improved, and effective fracture identification methods and standard parameter systems in tight sandstone reservoirs for various types of sedimentary facies and tectonic evolution backgrounds have not yet formed. It is pointed out that the future development trend of the research will mainly focus on the following: combination of all kinds of research methods of fractures, establishment of fracture identification standards and parameters systems, analysis of microfractures, description of fracture development degree and quantitative relationships among main controlling factors, improvement of the fractures resolution by seismic prediction, and study on the coupling relationship among the hydraulic fractures, natural fractures and ground stress.