Set partitioning in hierarchal trees (SPIHT) is actually a widely-used compression algorithm for wavelet altered images. On most algorithms developed, SPIHT algorithm from the time its introduction in 1996 for image compression has got lots of interest. Though SPIHT is considerably simpler and efficient than several present compression methods since it's a completely inserted codec, provides good image quality, large PSNR, optimized for modern image transmission, efficient conjunction with error defense, form information on demand and hence element powerful error correction decreases from starting to finish but still it has some downsides that need to be taken away for its better use therefore since its development it has experienced many adjustments in its original model. This document presents a survey on several different improvements in SPIHT in certain fields as velocity, redundancy, quality, error resilience, sophistication, and compression ratio and memory requirement