Apoptosis is a finely regulated programmatic cell death mechanism involving key proteins such as the Caspase family, Bcl-2 family, and death receptor family. The Caspase family promotes the execution of cell death programs through the activation of their precursor forms, the Bcl-2 family balances cell survival and death by regulating the mitochondrial pathway, while the death receptor family mediates apoptosis induced by extracellular signals. This process occurs in various cellular locations including the nucleus, cytoplasm, and mitochondria, impacting development, immune regulation, and disease progression. Specific gene expression and functional mutations are closely associated with various diseases such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. Research on apoptotic pathways is of significant importance for understanding life processes and disease treatment.