At present, the application of electronic case files by the people's courts of Republic of China has already taken the lead in the world, and the courts at various levels have actively carried out the application practice with their own characteristics. However, as a whole, this kind of reform is still in the exploratory stage of ''crossing the river by feeling the stones'', the top-level design needs to be improved, and the relevant laws and regulations lag behind relatively. The generalization of the application of electronic case files not only puts forward new requirements for the people's courts to guarantee the authenticity and validity of case files, but also brings new challenges to the exercise of litigation rights such as the right to review files. Re-examining the legitimate basis of the application of electronic case files under the background of information technology, combined with the empirical investigation and analysis of the current situation and problems of the practice of electronic case files in the people's courts, would be helpful to make a clearer and more reasonable determination of the legal nature, function and utility of electronic case files. At the same time, it could be used as the basis and criterion for testing and improving the application mechanism of electronic case files, so as to promote the formation of more targeted and feasible measures and suggestions to solve the problems related to the generation, management, transfer and review of electronic case files.