Wireless environments usually represent the collection

which changes electromagnetic waves between communication devices significantly. Software-defined wireless environment allows programming customization of electromagnetic propagation laws in the most appropriate way for different communication devices

providing a new perspective for the development of wireless communications. Compared with the traditional passive communication technology

software-defined wireless environment has a higher degree of freedom

which has great potential in the new generation of mobile communications

especially in the field of millimeter wave and terahertz communications. This paper first introduces the concept

history and research status of software defined wireless environment. Then the basic model is given

and the performance advantages compared with the traditional methods are analyzed and summarized. Then it summarizes the key technologies of software defined wireless environment

such as system design

network service support and network communication protocol design

and points out the challenges faced by the future development of software defined wireless environment. Finally

several new research interests of software defined wireless environment for new generation mobile communication technology are refined.