Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed, single-stranded RNAs that lack a 5′ cap and a 3′ poly(A) tail, typically found in eukaryotic cells. Initially considered non-coding RNAs, recent studies have shown that a subset of circRNAs can be translated into proteins. This review highlights the 5′ cap-independent internal initiation of translation on circRNAs, focusing on molecular features such as internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs), N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, and the exon junction complex (EJC) deposited around the back-splicing junction. The relationship between circRNA translatability and stability, including nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) and nonstop decay (NSD), is also discussed. The review emphasizes the importance of understanding circRNA translation for advancing proteomics and exploring the diverse functions of circRNAs in various biological and physiological processes.Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed, single-stranded RNAs that lack a 5′ cap and a 3′ poly(A) tail, typically found in eukaryotic cells. Initially considered non-coding RNAs, recent studies have shown that a subset of circRNAs can be translated into proteins. This review highlights the 5′ cap-independent internal initiation of translation on circRNAs, focusing on molecular features such as internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs), N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, and the exon junction complex (EJC) deposited around the back-splicing junction. The relationship between circRNA translatability and stability, including nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) and nonstop decay (NSD), is also discussed. The review emphasizes the importance of understanding circRNA translation for advancing proteomics and exploring the diverse functions of circRNAs in various biological and physiological processes.