With the escalating global demand for food and increasing concerns about environmental sustainability, finding innovative and efficient solutions for managing organic waste has become an urgent necessity. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a biological process that converts organic matter into biogas in the absence of oxygen. The fundamental principles and key factors influencing the AD process, including substrate characteristics, microbial communities, temperature and pH are reviewed. Some insights into the history and recent development of anaerobic digestion in France and in Europe are given before the main effluents and waste treatment technologies are described. Finally, the valorization of AD products is presented as well as perspectives towards higher value-added products.