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Abstract This study utilizes digital image correlation (DIC) technology to measure the far-field displacements and strains of rock specimens during the entire loading and unloading. Through analyzing the distributions of strain, displacement and their variations per unit length at different stages, the variations of both length and migration velocity of the fracture process zone (FPZ) were studied, and the crack propagation was also investigated. In addition, the entire path of crack propagation was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results reveal that (1) the fractured ligament can be divided into three zones based on the displacement variation per unit length: intact zone, crack propagation zone, and FPZ. (2) The FPZ length reaches its maximum at the peak load and then decreases, and the minimum length even is only 1/3–1/2 of the maximum length. The FPZ migration velocity is − 48 to 1460 m/s. FPZ’s microscale features are intergranular microcracks, transgranular microcracks, cleavage, and debris on fracture surface and around main crack propagation path. (3) The crack propagation length during peak load to peak-post 90% accounts for more than 1/3–1/4 of the entire post-peak length. Crack propagation is alternating fast and slow, i.e., the velocity of crack propagation varies regularly in the range of 24–700 m/s. The region of crack initial propagation is more severely damaged compared to other propagation regions.