This review focuses on the characteristics of soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and its response and potential mechanisms to climate warming. The properties of soil DOC are described, and its sampling and analyzing methods are summarized. Soil DOC is mainly derived from soil organic carbon (SOC) dissolution, root exudates, microbial products and necromass, and the concentration and composition of soil DOC varies along soil profile and over time. Multiple sampling (e.g. tension lysimeter) and analyzing (e.g. Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry) methods of soil DOC were applied to investigate the responses and mechanisms of soil DOC to experimental warming. Based on previous studies, this review also discussed the effects of plants, microorganisms, and soil properties on soil DOC characteristics. Experimental warming may not only directly alter soil DOC concentration, but also indirectly change soil DOC properties via affecting plant, soil and microbial properties. Future studies should pay more attention to the vertical transport and temporal dynamics of DOM to further improve the SOC models and strengthen the prediction accuracy of global carbon cycle under climate warming in future.