The work aims to further evaluate the buffer performance of energy absorbing materials scientifically and promote the research and application of energy absorbing materials. Based on the classification of common energy absorbing materials, the buffer performance test methods of energy absorbing materials were comprehensively investigated, and the data characterization and processing methods of buffer performance were systematically analyzed. The testing methods of buffer performance mainly relied on compression test and impact test, and the compression test can be divided into static compression test and dynamic compression test. There were five methods to characterize and process buffer performance data:buffer curve method, energy absorption curve method, energy absorption diagram method, Janssen factor method and Rusch curve method. Among them, the energy absorption diagram method can simultaneously collect the energy absorption characteristics and buffering effect of materials under different density and strain rate conditions, reflecting the best energy absorption point of materials. It was more extensive in use. It is recommended to adopt energy absorption diagram to characterize the buffer energy absorption characteristics of energy absorbing materials.