A review is given here to describe the temperature effect and temperature gradient technology in capillary electrophoresis (CE). The temperature effects on the analysis of DNA, protein peptides and amino acids, enantiomers, carbohydrates and other substances are discussed respectively. The theory of temperature effect is also mentioned. The importance of the temperature gradient in CE, the classifications of gradient technology in CE, the potential applications and different method development of the temperature gradient are described. Fifty-one references are cited.