In this research,big data and visualization technologies were used to establishthe knowledge maps of research institutions,researchers,and research hotspots in the global welding field based on the papers indexed by the Web of Science（Wo S） database and the CNKI database,patents indexed by the Derwent Innovation Index（DII） database and the CNKI China Patent database,and projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China from 2014 ～2018. The findings of this study pointed out that research institutions and scholars from China have contributed the most to the papers and patentsin global welding field. "Joint-microstructure-mechanical properties" is the main line of research in the global welding field. The study also found that compared with Japan,the United States and other welding manufacturing power countries,China is still weak in the transfer and transformation of science and technology achievements,and also the innovation ability of Chinese enterprises.