Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses carrying single stranded and positive RNA genome. The viruses are important human and animal pathogens, causing acute or chronic symptoms in respiratory, nerve, liver, gastrointestinal tract. From 2000, epidemics of SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) in human population and worldwide epidemic of PEDV (Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus) in pig population have made coronaviruses the focus of scientific research. Coronavirus S protein is the key protein involved in receptor recognition and membrane fusion. The S protein plays an important role in virus tissue or host tropism and virulence. This article reviewed the recent studies on structure and function of coronaviral S protein, and the interaction between the S proteins and their receptors, aiming to provide more information for research on the viral invasion mechanism, reverse genetics as well as the development of receptor blocking drugs.