Noble　metal　nanomaterials　are　widely　used　in　analytical　chemistry　due　to　their　unique　physical　and　chemical　properties.　However,　the　instability　of　nanoparticles　in　aqueous　solutions　limits　the　development　of　noble　metal　nanomaterials.　Hydrogels　acting　as　nanoparticle　carriers　can　solve　this　problem　well.　Due　to　the　excellent　mechanical　properties,　good　biocompatibility　and　ease　of　modification,　hydrogels　can　improve　the　properties　of　nanomaterials　and　provide　new　application　advantages.　Therefore,　more　and　more　researches　focus　on　the　development　of　noble　metal　nanoparticles　and　hydrogel　composite　materials.　Here,　we　reviewed　the　preparation　principles　and　application　progress　of　various　types　of　noble　metal　nanoparticles　and　hydrogel　composite　materials　in　the　past　five　years,　and　discussed　the　application　advantages　of　composite　materials　and　their　further　research　orientations.　©　2021　Changchun　Institute　of　Applied　Chemistry,　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences