Systematical investigations have been conducted on the evolution of coherent structures in transitional and turbulent boundary layers. Despite the type of transition regimes, the beginning of transition is associated with a three-dimensional (3-D) wave packet called solitonlike coherent structure (SCS). In order to develop a deeper understanding of its evolution and role in precipitating the development of other flow structures, experimental and numerical efforts were made. Experimental techniques include hydrogen bubble visualization, hot-film measurement and tomographic particle image velocimetry (tomo-PIV). Numerical techniques include nonlinear parabolized stability equations (NPSE) and direct numerial simulations (DNS). These data sets are used to obtain detailed time-line flow patterns and reconstruct flow structures by employing Lagrangian tracking of marked particles. Particularly, objective vortex determination is done using a criterion called Lagrangian-averaged vorticity deviation (LAVD) in the identification of vortex boundaries. Based on experimental and numerical ‘visualization’ results, several common characteristics of the generic transition process were identified: (i) the amplification and lift-up of a 3-D wave, hypothesized as a SCS, causes the development of the high-shear layer (HSL), the warped wave front (WWF) pattern. A Λ-vortex develops from a 3-D WWF, which undergoes multiple folding processes. (ii) three-dimensional wave behavior of detected low-speed streaks (LSSs) in the near-wall region of a turbulent boundary layer appears to develop into associated near-wall vortex flow structures, in a process similar to transitional boundary layer behavior. In terms of the SCS dynamics, the process of LSS formation, bursting behaviour and the generation of hairpin vortices can be answered more clearly than before. (iii) similarity of flow behaviours between transitional and turbulent boundary layers is observed, which further supports the hypothesis that the amplification of a 3-D wave precipitates low-speed streaks and rotational structures in more extensive wall-bounded flows. The observed SCSs and resulting coherent structures not only enable revisiting the classic story of wall-bounded flow transition, but also open a new avenue to reconstruct the possible universal scenario for wall-bounded transition.