ABSTRACT Metasurfaces have emerged as a frontier technology in integrated photonics, enabling unparalleled control of light‐matter interactions through subwavelength structure. However, most reported optical metasurfaces are static, exhibiting well‐defined optical responses determined by their composition and fabrication‐configured geometries, constraining their potential for sophisticated and tunable optical manipulation. Consequently, reconfigurable metasurfaces that enable active and adaptive manipulation of light fields have swiftly risen to prominence in photonics research, with associated technological developments witnessing remarkable expansion in recent years. Among various types of dynamically controlled metasurfaces, liquid crystal on metasurfaces (LCoMs) featuring low power consumption, rich external‐field responsiveness, and facile integrability, confer upon them a compelling platform for active photonic control. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the cutting‐edge design methodologies and technological approaches developed in this rapidly evolving field. Our work systematically examines the intrinsic characteristics, integration architectures, and dynamic tuning mechanisms of LCoM, and highlights emerging applications enabled by its versatile manipulation of light fields. Finally, future challenges and perspectives are pinpointed, encompassing pivotal design principles, pathways for structural simplification, and imminent practice‐oriented issues, all steering toward the ambitious vision of inaugurating a new era of on‐demand access and mastery over the entire electromagnetic domain.
Liu et al. (2026) studied this question.