Electron backscatter diffraction（EBSD）is a revolutionary technology in the study of petrofabrics. This technology can observe traditional rock thin sections with high practicability and high resolution to sub micron. Together with scanning electron microscope, cathodoluminescence, wavelength dispersive spectrum, energy dispersive spectrum, EBSD can measure the crystal orientations of any transparent or opaque symmetrical crystals, and swiftly obtain their microtextures, micro chemical compositions and crystal parameters. EBSD can also be applied to study the micro morphology, crystal preferred orientation (CPO), misorientation, phase discrimination, strain measurement, grain boundaries, deformation mechanism, dislocation and slip system, intracrystalline deformation, pressures and temperature conditions of crystals. With the help of scanning focused ion beam (FIB), EBSD can obtain the three dimensional microstructure of minerals. Combined with field investigation and experimental petrology, using EBSD method can help study the crustal structural kinematics and dynamics. This article mainly reviews the history of petrofabrics, and research advances and typical cases of application of EBSD in quartz, feldspar, plagioclase, amphibole and pseudotachylyte. At last, this study discussed some uncertainties in the interpretation of EBSD results.