As one of the most promising fossil energy substitutes, hydrogen energy is receiving increasing attention, and it has been greatly developed in recent years. However, hydrogen safety issues limit the large-scale application of hydrogen energy. Since 1922, the issue of self-ignition of high-pressure hydrogen discharge has gradually become the focus of attention of scholars in the field of hydrogen energy. Particularly fruitful research results have been obtained in the past 20 years, showing that the minimum discharge pressure of hydrogen self-ignition is approximately 2 MPa. In particular, the discharge tube shape and bursting disc rupture have a significant effect on the characteristics of hydrogen self ignition. Moreover, the study of the hydrogen self-ignition mechanism under special working conditions has been extended by shock-induced ignition theory. Initial conditions mainly affect the critical pressure of hydrogen self-ignition by changing the formation, development and propagation of shock waves. Finally, the deficiencies and future research trends in research methods, self-ignition characteristics, and dynamic mechanisms are analysed. (c) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.