The growth of digital archival information storage space and the professional concern on the value of archives culture are challenging archival appraisal theoretical position in our country and question archivists' appraisal ability. The growth process of foreign archival appraisal theory is also accompanied by the challenges and questions. The complexity of archival appraisal work is always accompanied by the theoretical confusion and orientation of why appraise, appraise for who and how to appraise. Only by fully understanding appraisal theoretical basis, clarifying the theoretical confusion and practical direction, can we promote the development of archival work.