Left atrial function parameters play an important role in the assessment of whole cardiac function and have predictive value for the progression of many cardiovascular diseases. Early and accurate assessment of left atrial function is of significance for clinical interventions and patient prognosis. Echocardiography, as the most commonly used imaging tool for the assessment of left atrial function, is particularly important with each breakthrough. In this article, we summarise the developments of several commonly used and new echocardiographic techniques emerging in recent years in the assessment of left atrial structure and function.