The development and prospects of molten steel deoxidation in the steelmaking process are discussed. Traditional steelmaking processes involved blowing excess oxygen into the converter and using alloying elements for deoxidation, which led to excessive deoxidation of the steel liquid and affected its cleanliness. Over the past century, the total oxygen content in steel has been reduced from approximately 100×10⁻⁶ to about 10×10⁻⁶, with some steel grades able to control it below 5×10⁻⁶. A relatively stable and mature deoxidation technology has been formed, but further reduction of oxygen content is no longer significant for improving steel quality. The authors developed a deoxidation technology for bearing steel by optimizing the conventional process, combining silicon-manganese predeoxidation, ladle furnace diffusion deoxidation, and vacuum final deoxidation. This technology successfully produced interstitial-free steel with natural decarbonization predeoxidation, reducing aluminum consumption and production costs, and significantly improving the quality of cast billets. Non-aluminum deoxidation controlled the oxygen content in bearing steel between 4×10⁻⁶ and 8×10⁻⁶, altering the type of inclusions, eliminating large particle D-type inclusions, improving steel liquid flowability, and enhancing fatigue life. The development of deoxidation technology has evolved over time, with changes in steel oxygen content and deoxidation technology. In the early 20th century, deoxidation was mainly conducted using single elements, resulting in a wide oxygen content range. In the 1930s, aluminum deoxidation technology emerged, significantly reducing steel oxygen content. In the 1950s, vacuum degassing methods were introduced, further lowering oxygen content. In the 1960s to 1990s, ladle refining, injection metallurgy, and wire feeding technology were widely used, reducing oxygen content to about 10×10⁻⁶. Today, with continuous improvements in raw material quality and deoxidation control, oxygen content can be stably controlled below 5×10⁻⁶. The study summarizes the current application status of deoxidation in typical steel grades and introduces two innovative applications of deoxidation technology. Future development trends are presented to provide a reference for further technological developments in steelmaking.The development and prospects of molten steel deoxidation in the steelmaking process are discussed. Traditional steelmaking processes involved blowing excess oxygen into the converter and using alloying elements for deoxidation, which led to excessive deoxidation of the steel liquid and affected its cleanliness. Over the past century, the total oxygen content in steel has been reduced from approximately 100×10⁻⁶ to about 10×10⁻⁶, with some steel grades able to control it below 5×10⁻⁶. A relatively stable and mature deoxidation technology has been formed, but further reduction of oxygen content is no longer significant for improving steel quality. The authors developed a deoxidation technology for bearing steel by optimizing the conventional process, combining silicon-manganese predeoxidation, ladle furnace diffusion deoxidation, and vacuum final deoxidation. This technology successfully produced interstitial-free steel with natural decarbonization predeoxidation, reducing aluminum consumption and production costs, and significantly improving the quality of cast billets. Non-aluminum deoxidation controlled the oxygen content in bearing steel between 4×10⁻⁶ and 8×10⁻⁶, altering the type of inclusions, eliminating large particle D-type inclusions, improving steel liquid flowability, and enhancing fatigue life. The development of deoxidation technology has evolved over time, with changes in steel oxygen content and deoxidation technology. In the early 20th century, deoxidation was mainly conducted using single elements, resulting in a wide oxygen content range. In the 1930s, aluminum deoxidation technology emerged, significantly reducing steel oxygen content. In the 1950s, vacuum degassing methods were introduced, further lowering oxygen content. In the 1960s to 1990s, ladle refining, injection metallurgy, and wire feeding technology were widely used, reducing oxygen content to about 10×10⁻⁶. Today, with continuous improvements in raw material quality and deoxidation control, oxygen content can be stably controlled below 5×10⁻⁶. The study summarizes the current application status of deoxidation in typical steel grades and introduces two innovative applications of deoxidation technology. Future development trends are presented to provide a reference for further technological developments in steelmaking.