Most species in this family are small with attractive metallic coloration, and females generally have long ovipositors.

The family was first described by English entomologist Francis Walker in 1833 and the infrafamiliar classification has been revised several times.

[1] A number of subfamilies were created within Torymidae, some of which have since been transferred to other families (Idarninae, Sycophaginae, Epichrysomallinae, and Ormyrinae), leaving the family with up to six subfamilies, although as few as two in other classifications.

[1] A phylogenetic analysis in 2018 found that Torymidae as then circumscribed was not monophyletic.

[1] Chalcimerinae Boucekinini Torymoidini Torymini Glyphomerinae Microdontomerinae (=Erimerinae) Monodontomerinae Propalachiini Palachiini Podagrionini