Ciprofol, as a new type of short-acting intravenous anesthetic drug, belongs to the category of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor agonists. Its unique chemical structure, through the introduction of the cyclopropyl group in the isopropyl side chain of propofol, constructs a new type of chiral molecule, which significantly enhances the spatial effect, and improves the affinity for GABA receptors. Its pharmacological properties are characterized by high potency, rapid onset of action, rapid recovery, low accumulation, and minimal adverse reactions. Therefore, it has a wide range of applications in various endoscopic diagnostic and therapeutic operations, ICU sedation, and general anesthesia. In this paper, the related knowledge of ciprofol and the development of clinical application research are comprehensively sorted out and synthesized, to provide a solid theoretical basis for the rational application of ciprofol in clinical practice. At the same time, the future research direction of ciprofol will also be prospected to provide valuable references for research in related fields.