Antifouling　coatings　play　a　crucial　role　in　preventing　the　adhesion　of　marine　organisms,　bacteria,　and　blood,　making　them　a　primary　strategy　for　combating　biofouling　in　the　marine　industry.　However,　conventional　antifouling　coatings　suffer　from　drawbacks　such　as　high　toxicity,　limited　abrasion　resistance,　and　unstable　polymer　degradation　rates,　which　can　have　adverse　effects　on　the　environment,　economy,　and　human　health.　Thus,　there　is　an　urgent　need　for　the　development　of　sustainable　and　nontoxic　antifouling　coatings.　This　review　first　presents　four　major　antifouling　strategies:　traditional　coatings　based　on　wettability,　traditional　coatings　with　protective　structures,　nontoxic　coatings　based　on　main　chain　degradable　polymers,　and　nontoxic　coatings　combining　main　chain　degradation　with　branch　chain　hydrolysis　polymers.　Second,　the　review　provides　a　comprehensive　overview　of　antifouling　coatings　with　diverse　functionalities,　including　antibacterial,　anti-protein,　anti-blood,　anti-incrusting,　adhesive,　self-healing,　and　corrosion-resistant　properties.　Then,　the　application　of　antifouling　coatings　in　marine　environments　and　the　medical　field　is　thoroughly　explored.　Additionally,　the　review　addresses　the　current　challenges　encountered　by　antifouling　coatings.　Finally,　a　forward-looking　perspective　is　presented,　envisioning　future　advancements　in　this　field.　By　addressing　these　aspects,　this　review　aims　to　stimulate　further　development　and　innovation　in　the　realm　of　antifouling　coatings.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd