AbstractThis paper studies the problem of the adaptive control of nonlinear impulsively coupled complex networks. Firstly, a class of adaptive controllers are designed for the nonlinear impulsive differential equations, where the nonlinear function can be decomposed into matching condition and mismatching condition. Secondly, combining with Lasalle invariant set theorem, Schur complement theorem and some inequality techniques, we consider the synchronization of impulsively coupled complex networks via the general adaptive control. Moreover, this paper proposes the pinning adaptive synchronization results for impulsive dynamical complex networks. Finally, the proposed results are verified by some examples in which simulations are available for comparison.