Aim The aim is to study the application and progress of classification algorithm in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research and to provide useful reference for data mining in TCM.Method We used CNKI, Wanfang and Weipu as the main literature retrieval platform to establish the literature database of the research object.Results 345 related articles were collected from 311,746 articles.The application of classification algorithm is mainly concentrated on five research sub-fields, including the study of Chinese medicine property, drug analysis, drug safety/toxicity, prescription compatibility rules and the efficacy of Chinese medicine.Moreover, the artificial neural network algorithm has the widest application range in subfields of traditional Chinese medicine research.Conclusion The classification algorithm is widely used in the research of traditional Chinese medicine.The classification algorithms of different mathematical models have their own characteristics and should be optimized according to the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine data.By improving the traditional classification algorithm, it is more conducive to give full play to the role of classification algorithm in the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine.