Ferroptosis is a programmed cell death that is different from other cell death modes, and its mechanism is mainly due to lipid peroxidation and iron imbalance. Existing studies have confirmed that ferroptosis is related to the occurrence and development of various diseases such as cancer, diabetes, kidney disease and so on. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has recently been redefined and reclassified as metabolic dysfunction associated fatty liver disease, and its incidence is increasing, but its pathogenesis is not fully understood. Current studies have found that ferroptosis acts on the liver through GPX4 pathway, iron overload and lipid peroxidation, Nrf2 activation, inflammation and other pathways, eventually leading to the occurrence and development of NAFLD. This article reviews the characteristics and mechanisms of ferroptosis, and summarizes the latest progress of ferroptosis in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. At present, some studies have proposed the use of ferroptosis inhibitors for the treatment of iron overloading related diseases. In the future, more studies may explore the role of ferroptosis inhibitors in the treatment of different stages of NAFLD