Scientific research into isotope hydrograph separation (IHS) has rapidly increased in recent years. However, there is a lack of systematic and quantitative research to explore how this field has evolved over time. In this study, the methods of text mining and bibliometric analysis were combined to address this shortcoming. The results showed that there were clear periodical characteristics in IHS studies between 1986 and 2019. High-frequency words, e.g., catchment, stable isotope, runoff,

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... water, precipitation, runoff generation, and soil, were the basic topics in IHS studies. Forest and glacier/snow were the main landscapes in this research field. 'Variation', 'spatial', and 'uncertainty' are hot issues for future research. Today, studies involving the geographical source, flow path, and transit/residence time of streamflow components have enhanced our understanding of the hydrological processes by using hydrometeorological measurements, water chemistry, and stable isotope approaches. In the future, new methods, such as path analysis and ensemble hydrograph separation, should be verified and used in more regions, especially in remote and mountainous areas. Additionally, the understanding of the role of surface water in streamflow components remains limited and should be deeply studied in the future.