Objective To detect the expression of miR-590-5p in malignant melanoma A375 cells, its effect on the invasion and migration of A375 cells, and underlying mechanism. Methods Real-time PCR was performed to detect the expression of miR-590-5p in A375 cells and human normal melanocyte (HM) cells; TranswellTM assay and wound healing assay were used to observe the effect of miR-590-5p on the invasion and migration of A375 cells; Luciferase assay was done to determine whether YAP1 was the direct target of miR-590-5p; quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting were performed to investigate the effect of miR-590-5p on YAP1 expression. Results Compared with HM cells, miR-590-5p was significantly down-regulated in A375 cells. Compared with A375 cells transfected with miR-590-5p-NC, cell invasion and migration were significantly inhibited in A375 cells transfected with miR-590-5p mimics. Luciferase assay indicated that YAP1 was the direct target of miR-590-5p. Compared with A375 cells transfected with miR-590-5p-NC, mRNA and protein levels of YAP1 were significantly inhibited in A375 cells transfected with miR-590-5p mimics. Conclusion miR-590-5p is downregulated in A375 cells, and inhibits the invasion and migration of A375 cells by directly regulating the expression of YAP1.