The frequency domain response method has been preliminarily applied to the daily maintenance of cables by the virtue of its sensitivity to the weak defect of the characteristic impedance change of cables. This paper firstly briefly introduces the basic principle of the frequency domain response method, and then sorts out the research progresses of the frequency domain response method based on broadband input impedance spectrum and reflection coefficient spectrum and their improved localization algorithms. On this basis, the technical problems existing in the field application of the frequency domain response method are summarized and analyzed, and the research and application of the new defect localization method time-frequency domain reflection method in improving the sensitivity of cable defect localization are introduced. Finally, the future extension research direction of the frequency domain response method is pointed out.