The nanofibers prepared by traditional electrospinning technology are randomly arranged in the collection device, due to low degree of orientation and weak properties, limiting their application. Aligned nanofibers can be obtained by improving the collection device, and have great potential in the fields of tissue engineering, sensors, reinforcement materials and energy, and have attracted wide attention from researchers. Nowadays, preparation of high-performance and low-cost nanofiber materials has become the current research goal and trend. The degree of orientation is increased by aligned nanofibers, and the electrical conductivity, piezoelectricity, thermal stability, mechanical property and optical property of the electrospun nanofibers are enhanced. This paper discusses the use of fiber orientation to promote the performance improvement of composite nanofiber materials and their application in the field of materials. The principle that aligned nanofibers have better properties than randomly aligned nanofibers is summarized.