<p>The durability, functionality, and performance of machined components are greatly affected by the surface textures created during the machining process. This paper systematically analyses the generation of surface texture in machining operations. The methods of surface modelling in different machining operations are critically reviewed and only models based on machining theories are taken into consideration. In addition, the combined effects of a large number of influential factors are considered and reviewed. The research findings indicate that there is a need to improve the precision of surface modeling analyses and during the evaluation of modeling accuracy, it is crucial to evaluate not just the height parameters but also the functional, hybrid, and spatial parameters. Therefore, it is worthy to mention that this review will help to obtain the suitable surface roughness model and to maximize the performance of the machining system.</p>