In recent years, due to their unique physical, chemical and electronic properties, two-dimensional materials have received more and more researchers’ attention. In particular, the excellent optoelectronic properties and transport properties of two-dimensional materials such as graphene, black phosphorous and transition metal sulfide materials make them have broad application prospects in the field of next-generation optoelectronic devices. In this article, we will mainly introduce the advantages of two-dimensional materials in the field of photodetection, outline the basic principles and parameters of photodetectors, focus on the difference between the grating effect and the traditional photoconductive effect, and the reasons and characteristics of improving optical gain and optical responsivity. Then we review the latest developments and applications of grating local control in photodetectors, and finally summarize the problems faced by the photodetectors of this kind and their prospects for the future.