Postbiotics refer to preparation of inanimate microorganisms and / or their components that confers a health benefit on the host mainly including the components of the microorganism itself such as cell wall cellular peptides and microbial metabolites. Postbiotics have the advantages of fixed chemical structure safe and non - toxic properties due to inactivated microorganisms and longer shelf life compared to probiotics prebiotics and synbiotic products. In recent years the incidence of colorectal cancer has increased rapidly and the relationship between colorectal cancer and gut microbiota has been more studied. Gut microorganisms interact with host cells in healthy intestines modulating energy acquisition metabolism and immune response. Dysbiosis occurs when microbiota is disturbed by environment invasion of pathogenic microorganisms and other factors stimulating occurrence and development of colorectal cancer. Studies have confirmed that some postbiotics such as short chain fatty acids exopolysaccharides and tryptophan metabolites can exhibit anticancer activity through different mechanisms providing a new vision for the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer but the specific clinical feasibility and treatment strategies still need to be further explored. This review focuses on the definition classification mechanism of postbiotics and its connection with colorectal cancer along with the latest research progress at home and abroad providing a theoretical basis for the application in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.