Frequency-domain photoacoustic imaging is a new imaging modality, which uses the output amplitude information periodically modulated by a continuous-wave laser as a light source to stimulate biological tissues and to produce photoacoustic signals processed at frequency-domain and used to image the tissues. Firstly, the principles, developments and research status of photoacoustic imaging and frequency-domain photoacoustic imaging were introduced, and then the specific test methods and basic reconstruction algorithms of the frequency-domain photoacoustic imaging filed were described. In order to make up for time domain photoacoustic imaging with high costs, great harmful, poor portability and so on shortcomings, two imaging modalities were proposed and two complete experimental system structure diagrams were exhibited, showing different features and developing directions of photoacoustic imaging with respect to the traditional domain-photoacoustic imaging. At last, the outlook of the frequency-domain photoacoustic imaging was made to provide some references and guidance for our research and development about photoacoustic imaging.