The internet of things is an emerging technology that is currently present in most processes and devices, allowing to improve the quality of life of people and facilitating the access to specific information and services. The main purpose of the present article is to offer a general overview of internet of things, based on the analysis of recently published work. The added value of this article lies in the analysis of the main recent publications and the diversity of applications of internet of things technology. As a result of the analysis of the current literature, internet of things technology stands out as a facilitator in business and industrial performance but above all in improving the quality of life. As a conclusion to this document, the internet of things is a technology that can overcome the challenges in terms of security, processing capacity and data mobility, as long as the development related to other technologies follows its expected course.