Recent advancements in wireless communication and microchip techniques have accelerated the development of wireless sensor networks (WSN). Key management in WSN is a critical and challenging problem because of the inner characteristics of sensor networks: deployed in hostile environments, limited resource and ad hoc nature. This paper investigates the constraints and special requirements of key management in sensor network environment, and some basic evaluation metrics are introduced. The key pre-distribution scheme is thought as the most suitable solution for key management problem in wireless sensor networks. It can be classified into four classes: pure probabilistic key pre-distribution, polynomial-based, Blom’s matrix-based, and deterministic key pre-distribution schemes. In each class of methods, the related research papers are discussed based on the basic evaluation metrics. Finally, the possible research directions in key management are discussed. Recent advancements in wireless communication and microchip techniques have accelerated the development of wireless sensor networks (WSN). Key management in WSN is a critical characteristic of sensor networks: deployed in hostile environments, limited resource and ad hoc nature . This paper investigates the constraints and special requirements of key management in sensor network environment, and some basic evaluation metrics are introduced. The key pre-distribution scheme is thought as the most suitable solution for key management problem in wireless sensor networks. classified into four classes: pure probabilistic key pre-distribution, polynomial-based, Blom’s matrix-based, and deterministic key pre-distribution schemes. Finally, the possible research directions in key management are discussed.