Exosomes are extracellular small molecular vesicles with lipid bilayers, which contain biologically active substances such as RNA and proteins. Exosomes can conduct material transport and information transmission between cells. After cerebral ischemia, neuron-derived exosomes affect the occurrence and development of neuroinflammation by regulating the activation of glial cells, and the activated glial cells secrete exosomes containing inflammatory factors or inflammation related microRNAs to regulate the survival or death of neurons. Studies have shown that exosomes can be used as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for inflammatory injury after cerebral ischemia. This article describes the composition and function of exosomes, as well as their role and possible mechanism in neuroinflammation after cerebral ischemia.