Cable is the core component of cable supported bridges, and how to effectively detect and evaluate the safety of bridge cables is a topic worth studying. This article is based on the commonly used cable structures, analyzes the failure forms and parts based on the study of their disease characteristics, and proposes to focus on detecting the vulnerable parts of the cable based on the failure forms. The safety assessment of existing cables mainly compares the relationship between load levels and structural resistance. The article summarizes the existing methods for detecting cable load levels and cable structural resistance, and points out the applicability of various detection methods. Based on the failure forms of cables, an effective detection program and method for cables are proposed, and further safety assessment methods and strength status indicators for cables are proposed. The research results in the article are conducive to providing guidance for cable inspection and evaluation work, and can simplify the workload while ensuring structural safety