PURPOSE: To provide the optical fiber holding device which can speedily and easily fix and array optical fibers and is simple and reliable.

CONSTITUTION: This device is equipped with a base 20 which has a hold part smaller than the section of an optical fiber 13 and where a groove 24 determining an opening part a little larger than the diameter of the optical fiber extends across the top surface, a strand holding plate 30 which is arrayed movably on the groove 24, and a spring means 45 which presses the strand holding plate 30 against the top surface of the base 20. To weld two optical fibers, two optical fiber holding devices 10 are used and arranged at a proper distance, and the abutting end parts of the optical fibers fixed on them are welded by a laser.