Numerous approaches are in practice to mitigate corrosion. Among all of these approaches, protective coating plays an effective/promising role in corrosion protection. The coating efficiency is generally not sufficient for applications in aggressive and extreme environments. Addition/embedment of corrosion inhibitors in combination with protective coatings enhances the metal protection. Ineffective methods of direct blending of corrosion inhibitors with paint leads to a technology that uses a carrier (container or capsule) to encapsulate the inhibitor. Halloysite nanotubes have many advantages and are successfully identified/reported as a leading nanocontainer. This study reviews the recent development of halloysite nanotubes as a nanocontainer for smart coating applications. © 2017 Elsevier B.V.