A literature review was conducted to gather informations available on the welding metallurgy of aluminum alloys, emphasized on characteristics in the heat affected zone(HAZ). Nominal metallurgical reactions that occur in aluminum alloys provide a basis for understanding aluminum welding metallurgy. However, welding reactions differ to some extent because of the relatively short times involved, and the non-isothermal heating excursed. For non-heat treatable alloys, welding primarily affects these alloys by annealing (recrystallization and growth) and to a less extent, changes in low temperature precipitates. In the case of heat treatable alloys, the resulting HAZ properties depend upon alloy composition, starting temper, heat input and post weld heat treatments.