The occurrence states of hydrogen sulfide in coal seams are crucial in preventing and controlling hydrogen sulfide emission in coal mines and the safe development of coal bed methane. In this study, the research status of the occurrence states of free-state, adsorbed-state, and water-soluble hydrogen sulfide in coal seams was systematically analyzed. H₂S anomaly areas in China's coal seams are mainly located in the Carboniferous-Permian and Jurassic series of northern, eastern, central, and northwest regions of China. Bacterial sulfate reduction accounts for most of the hydrogen sulfide anomalies of low-rank coal, while thermochemical decomposition thermal desorption spectroscopy and thermochemical sulfate reduction may also result in hydrogen sulfide anomaly in medium- and high-rank coal. In contrast, magmatism-induced hydrogen sulfide anomalies are rarely found. Absorbed-state hydrogen sulfide anomalies are prevailing, while water-soluble and free-state hydrogen sulfide anomalies are relatively scarce. Coal seam's porosity mainly controls the hydrogen sulfide adsorption, pressure, coalification degree, pore volume, and specific area, while water-soluble hydrogen sulfide is influenced by pressure, sulfate-reducing bacteria, burn, porosity, fractures, water temperature, and hydrodynamic conditions. The fractures in coal seams, their burial depth, coal quality, coal rank, roof, and floor lithology are the main factors controlling the free-state hydrogen sulfide preservation. The absorbed-state hydrogen sulfide in coal seams is mainly mitigated by varying the ventilation mode, increasing the ventilation capacity, spraying alkali fog into the air, and injecting alkali liquid into coal seams for governance.