<p>Transparent materials are vital in the construction, automotive, electronics, and medical industries. However, the fogging phenomenon of these materials in certain environments not only causes inconvenience in daily life, but also may lead to safety issues. Currently, anti-fogging coatings have become a popular research topic. Recently, one way to prevent fogging has been to use the photothermal effect to reduce the likelihood of water vapor nucleation and provide anti-fogging effects. To this end, this review comprehensively analyzes the latest research advances in photothermal anti-fogging coatings. First, the photothermal effect and its energy conversion mechanism are discussed in depth, the photothermal and anti-fogging mechanisms are elucidated, and standard methods for performance testing and evaluation are provided, laying the foundation for photothermal anti-fogging. Next, a variety of methods for preparing photothermal anti-fogging coatings are described in detail, and the diversity and innovativeness of these methods provide more options for enhancing photothermal performance and expanding the range of applications. In addition, trends in the application of photothermal anti-fogging coatings in a number of fields are outlined, highlighting the significant benefits of these coatings in terms of improved field-of-view clarity and user experience. Finally, we summarize the challenges faced in this area. Photothermal anti-fogging coatings demonstrate promise for numerous applications, and the further research and development are essential to drive their commercialization and practical application.</p>