Abstract: Set top box （STB） is an emergent technology in recent years, and a lot of countries take it as the new growing point of their computers and electronic industry. Here discussed are the major technologies for STB, the standard used in STB, operating system, and the structure of the software. In addition, some typical STB’s structures are also given. Also pointed out are the effects on computing technology and chip’s trends along with the development of the digital television receiver. It is thought that the STB which gets all the functions of TV receiver, DVD, Internet service, and game player together will be popular in the future.