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In recent years, electromagnetic characteristics of metamaterials has aroused great interest because of innovative fundamental understanding as well as promising potential applications in optics, semiconductors, imaging, and sensing. We survey the state-of-the-art of spatially reconfigurable metamaterials in which electromagnetic Lorentz, Coulomb, and Ampere forces, as well as optical signals and thermal stimulation can be dynamically changed their optical properties. Electro-mechanical and optical inputs change the amplitude, phase, polarization of incident electromagnetic wave, and optical response within these metamaterials, which can be driven by electric or optical signals. Based on a solid theoretical foundation, we review the most recent experimental works on reconfigurable metamaterials endowed with an active tuning characteristic. Additionally, we review the potential metamaterial applications that may inspire new research works and offer a comparison to other optoelectronic fields.