Magnesium　(Mg)　and　its　alloys　are　being　used　as　substitutes　for　conventional　structural　materials　due　to　their　helpful　characteristics,　such　as　low　density　and　exceptional　mechanical　properties.　However,　the　electrochemical　stability　of　Mg　and　its　alloys　inhibits　their　utilization　in　various　applications.　Therefore,　the　development　of　active　self-healing　coatings　that　can　not　only　protect　Mg　alloys　at　the　experimental　scale　but　also　be　utilized　at　the　commercial　scale　is　imperative.　The　study　of　self-healing　coatings　for　Mg　alloys　is　increasing　at　an　unexpected　rate.　However,　the　mechanisms　of　self-healing　and　their　electrochemical　evaluations　for　inorganic　coatings　are　scarcely　summarized　for　Mg　alloys.　In　the　present　appraisal,　a　comprehensive　overview　is　provided　for　both　self-healing　mechanisms　and　evaluation　techniques　that　have　been　utilized　for　Mg　alloys.　Finally,　a　future　perspective　of　self-healing　coatings　and　evaluation　techniques　is　provided　that　illuminates　the　lack　of　information　that　is　available　and　confirms　that　a　substantial　amount　of　work　is　needed　to　fill　those　research　area　gaps　for　Mg　alloys.