**Abstract**

Characterization is an indispensable tool for understanding the structure– property-processing relationship in all material classes. However, challenges in selfhealing materials characterization arise from the preparation routes, material types, damage mechanism and applications. Here, the discourse surveys the exploits, advances and challenges encountered within various characterization methods that have been exploited to reveal the damage-restoring processes in some material classes, namely metals, polymers, ceramics, concretes and coatings. Since there is no unified characterization procedure for the different classes of materials displaying self-repairing capabilities, the outcome of this discourse contributes to the advancement of knowledge about understanding self-healing testing procedures. An overview of methods, challenges and prospects toward self-healing property standardization at different length scales has been discussed.

**Keywords:** material characterization, properties, processing, challenges, test standardization, self-healing materials
