The effects of photoirradiation in controlled and living radical polymerization (LRP), namely nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP), atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), cobalt-mediated radical polymerization (CMRP), reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT), organoiodine-mediated radical polymerization (IRP), and organotellurium-mediated radical polymerization (TERP), are summarized. As in the conventional radical polymerization, photoirradiation has been used for generating radicals under mild conditions in LRP methods. In addition to this use, photoirradiation is also used to overcome the difficulties characteristic to each method, such as activation of catalysis, generation of controlling agents, and increasing the polymer-end structure. The most-recent developments in the use of photochemistry in LRP are summarized in this review. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.