Based on the coupled mode theory, the transfer matrix approach is presented to investigate the fiber grating external cavity semiconductor lasers (FGECSL). As a result, the P-I curve, the lasing wavelength and the side-mode-suppressionratio (SMSR) have been investigated numerically in detail. With the length of the fiber grating increasing, the reflection spectrum of FGECSL changes obviously, the threshold current and threshold carrier density decreases, the mode distribution is irregular, and the output spectrum becomes complex. Moreover, the optical bistablility is also observed.