Reverse osmosis (RO) is a membrane filtering system that uses a semipermeable membrane to remove contaminants from water before sending the purified water on to be used in a number of settings, such as households and factories. The goal of this study is to investigate the process of reverse osmosis as well as the current status of the membrane materials that are used in the process. These membrane materials are the driving elements in the process. This review also includes a discussion on the cleaning of membranes, the utilization of RO systems for a number of applications, and new advancements in the field of reverse osmosis. In the process of cleaning water, reverse osmosis, also known as RO, is a potent technique that makes use of a semi-permeable membrane to remove hazardous bacteria as well as dissolved particles. This technique is utilized on a regular basis for the purpose of desalinating seawater for use in drinking, agricultural, and industrial applications.