Bionic optimization algorithm is a kind of bionic algorithm that imitates biological behaviors and natural phenomenon, whose aim is to find out the optimal solution of the target problem. In the paper, the origin and basic principles of various bionic optimization algorithms are first introduced, including ant colony algorithm, particle swarm algorithm, bacteria foraging algorithm, bee colony algorithm, fish swarm algorithm, glowworm swarm algorithm, wolf pack algorithm, bat algorithm, chicken swarm algorithm, evolutionary algorithm, immune algorithm, clonal selection algorithm, small-world network, and so on. Then, the state of the art of bionic optimization algorithms is reviewed, and some typical applications of bionic optimization algorithms in signal processing, image processing, speech processing and communication network are given. Finally, the features of bionic optimization algorithms are summarized, the basic ideas on how to extend their applications and explore new bionic optimization algorithms are presented, and the future developments of bionic optimization algorithms are also prospected.