Densely packed arrays of magnetic nanowires have been synthesized by electrodeposition filling of nanopores in alumina and titania membranes formed by self-assembling during anodization process. Emphasis is made on the control of the production parameters leading to ordering degree and lattice parameter of the array as well as nanowires diameter and length. Structural, morphological and magnetic properties exhibited by nanowire arrays have been studied for several nanowire compositions, different ordering degree and for different nanowire aspect ratios. The magnetic behaviour of nanowires array is governed by the balance between different energy contributions: shape anisotropy of individual nanowires, the magnetostatic interaction of dipolar origin among nanowires, and magnetocrystalline and magnetoelastic anisotropies induced by the pattern templates. These novel nanocomposites, based on ferromagnetic nanowires embedded in anodic nanoporous templates, are becoming promising candidates for technological applications such as functionalised arrays for magnetic sensing, ultrahigh density magnetic storage media or spin-based electronic devices.