Yudiba dam serves as an effective measure for controlling gully erosion and mitigating soil and water loss in the Loess Plateau. Its role in reducing sediment yield and transport in watersheds is achieved by temporarily obstructing or slowing down floodwaters, thereby retaining sediment and preventing silting into the river. With the ecological protection of the basin becoming more and more scientific and reasonable, it is necessary to quantitatively and accurately analyze the sediment retention of Yudiba dams in different stages in order to evaluate their real and specific benefits in the control of water and soil loss, which can provide a reference for the precise implementation of high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin. By consulting the literature and data of related research on Yudiba dams at home and abroad, combined with field investigation and sampling, laboratory instrument testing and subsequent related research experience, this paper systematically summarizes seven methods for analyzing the sediment retention of Yudiba dams: field investigation, topographic mapping method, mathematical attribution method, cause analysis method, weight coefficient method, model simulation method and dating analysis in fingerprint identification technology. The principle, steps, applicability and problems to be solved of each method are described, and the follow-up sediment retention analysis of Yudai Dam is prospected, with a view to providing reference for further accurate quantitative analysis of sediment retention of Yudiba dams.