Objective To investigate the effect of circular RNA hsa-circ-0001862 on the phenotype of tongue squamous cell carcinoma and its mechanism on the occurrence and development of tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Methods hsa-circ-0001862 plasmid was constructed, and the interaction relationship between hsa-circ-0001862 and miR-23a-3p was verified by double luciferase reporter gene and qRT-PCR. After targeted inhibition of hsa-circ-0001862, CCK8 assay and colony formation assay were used to detect the cell viability and colony formation ability of tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells. The migration and invasion ability of tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells were detected by scratch test and Transwell test. Apoptosis-related proteins were detected by Western blot to reflect the effect of hsa-circ-0001862 on the apoptosis of tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells. Results hsa-circ-0001862 and miR-23a-3p could interact, and their expression was negatively correlated in tongue squamous cell, carcinoma cells. In Tca-8113 cells, hsa-circ-0001862 inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion (P<0.01), and promoted cell apoptosis (P<0.01). Conclusion hsa-circ-0001862 interacts with miR-23a-3p, and hsa-circ-0001862 plays an inhibitory role in the development of tongue squamous cell carcinoma. hsa-circ-0001862 may be a new biomarker and target for the treatment of tongue squamous cell carcinoma.