The invention relates to a tunable optical attenuator based on an PLZT electronically controlled light scattering effect. The attenuator comprises a first optical fiber collimator, a PLZT transparentceramic with a parallel electrode, a first convex lens, an aperture, a second convex lens and a second optical fiber collimator. When the first optical fiber collimator is used in the optical path ofan optical fiber, the first optical fiber collimator and the second optical fiber collimator are light input/output paths, and the first optical fiber collimator, the PLZT transparent ceramic with theparallel electrode, the first convex lens, the aperture, the second convex lens and the second optical fiber collimator are coaxially arranged. The tunable optical attenuator has a compact structure,the designing of the optical path is simple and easy to achieve, the lost is low, the producing and adjusting are simple, not only can accurate control of optical power attenuation be conducted, butalso optical beam conversion can be achieved, control manners are flexible, and the adaptation of different application demands is facilitated.