Ecosystem models are mathematical representations of underlying mechanistic relationships among ecological components and processes. Ecosystem modeling is a useful tool to visualize inherent complexities of ecological relationships among components and the characteristic variability in ecological systems, and to quantitatively predict effects of modification of systems due to human activities and/or climate change. A number of interdisciplinary programs in recent 20 to 30 years motivated oceanographic communities to explore and employ systematic and holistic approaches, and as an outcome of these efforts, synthesis and modeling became a popular and important way of integrating lessons learned from many on-going projects. This is a brief review that includes: background information of ecosystem dynamics model; what needs to be considered in building a model framework; biologically-physically coupled processes; end-to-end modeling efforts; and parameterization and related issues.