Photodetectors are finding various potential applications in sensing and detection, information communication, light-emitting diode, optical modulators, ultrafast laser, etc. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) has sparked great interest given its unique crystal phase, flexible preparation, structural stability, and regulable photoelectronic features. Therefore, the MoS 2 -based photodetector is demonstrated to be an excellent device fabrication platform to explore underlying sensitive detection, broadband optical detection, high-speed response, low-power consumption, two-dimensional integrated circuit, and its synergetic mechanism, which is also proved to be an excellent candidate for next-generation optoelectronics. This review summarizes the structural, optical, and transport features of MoS 2 . Then the working mechanisms and figures of merit are explored for the MoS 2 detector. Further, the detector modulation strategies are introduced in detail about layer-number engineering and chemical doping engineering. Afterward, the recent heterostructure assembling strategies (MoS 2 /nD, n = 0,1,2,3) of detector architectures are classified based on flexible van der Waals assembling. Finally, the future direction of MoS 2 photodetectors is discussed, which can be delivered as a feasifields.