•Advances on the characterization and treatment of landfill leachate are reviewed.•The state-of-the-art innovations of spectroscopic techniques are highlighted.•Advanced oxidation techniques are promising in landfill leachate treatment.•Limitations/challenges of current characterization/treatment approaches are discussed.•Perspectives on the development of characterizing/treating approaches are envisaged. Landfill leachate is a complicated organic wastewater generated in the sanitary landfilling process. Landfill leachate must be appropriately disposed to avoid ecotoxicity and environmental damage. An in depth understanding of the physiochemical characteristics and environmental behaviors of landfill leachate is essential for its effective treatment. In this study, recent advances on the properties of landfill leachate, its characterization methods and treatment techniques are critically reviewed. Specifically, the up-to-date spectroscopic techniques for landfill leachate characterization and advanced oxidation treatment techniques are highlighted. Moreover, the drawbacks and challenges of current techniques for landfill leachate characterization and treatment are discussed, along with the future perspectives in the development of characterization and treatment approaches for landfill leachate. Display omitted