Optical signal‐processing architectures are presented to realize frequency‐domain implementations of the classical least‐mean‐square (LMS) adaptive‐filtering algorithm. Optical implementation of both Fourier and Hartley transforms are considered. Performance assessments of the digital and optical approaches based on computer simulation and computational complexity are presented. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 40: 280–285, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.11352