A review of adaptive detection techniques for direct-sequence code division multiple access (CDMA) signals is given. The goal is to improve CDMA system performance and capacity by reducing interference between users. The techniques considered are implementations of multiuser receivers, for which background material is given. Adaptive algorithms improve the feasibility of such receivers. Three main forms of receivers are considered. The minimum mean square error (MMSE) receiver is described and its performance illustrated. Numerous adaptive algorithms can be used to implement the MMSE receiver, including blind techniques, which eliminate the need for training sequences. The adaptive decorrelator can be used to eliminate interference from known interferers, though it is prone to noise enhancement. Multistage and successive interference cancellation techniques reduce interference by cancellation of one detected signal from another. Practical problems and some open research topics are mentioned. These typically relate to the convergence rate and tracking performance of the adaptive algorithm.