Active noise control (ANC) is an effective way for reducing the noise level in electroacoustic or electromechanical systems. Since its first introduction in 1936, this approach has been greatly developed. This paper focuses on discussing the development of ANC techniques over the past decade. Linear ANC algorithms, including the celebrated filtered-x least-mean-square (FxLMS)based algorithms and distributed ANC algorithms, are investigated and evaluated. Nonlinear ANC (NLANC) techniques, such as functional link artificial neural network (FLANN)-based algorithms, are pursued in Part II. Furthermore, some novel methods and applications of ANC emerging in the past decade are summarized. Finally, future research challenges regarding the ANC technique are discussed.