Anti-scratch coating is a type of protective coating or film applied to an object's surface for mitigation against scratches. Scratches are small cuts left on a surface following interaction with a harder or sharper object. Anti-scratch coatings provide scratch resistances by containing materials with scratch-resistant properties. Scratch resistant materials within coatings come in the form of additives, fillers, and binders. Besides materials, scratch resistance is impacted by coating formation techniques. Commercially, anti-scratch coatings are used in the automotive, optical, and electronics industries, where functionality or resale value is impaired by scratches. Anti-scratch coatings are of growing importance as traditional scratch-resistant materials like metals and glass are replaced with plastics, which are generally softer and less scratch-resistant.

Anti-scratch coatings in the automotive industry maintain vehicles' appearance, and prevent damage of the anti-corrosion layer. Automotive anti-scratch coatings are becoming stronger (from 10 newtons to 15 newtons of protection) to counter scratch resistance lost due to the industry's shift from steel to lightweight, but less scratch-resistant plastics and aluminium. Currently, scratch formation is decreased with a combination of primer and clear coat. The primer is often made of polyolefin-resin, while the clear coat typically contains the additives siloxane and erucamide.

Scratch-resistant coatings are frequently added to glasses because even minor defects are likely to impair a wearer's vision. Even when a corrective lens is made of scratch-resistant glass, polycarbonate, or CR-39, coatings are still often used. Optical coatings include diamond-like carbon (DLC) and anti-reflective and anti-scratch hybrid coatings. Diamond-like carbon shares diamond's extreme scratch resistance. Anti-reflective and anti-scratch hybrid coatings contain scratch-resistant additives with anti-reflective coating materials.

In the electronics industry, scratch-resistant coatings are applied to electronic screens to prevent primary fingernail scratches. Screens are made of either polycarbonate (the most scratch-resistant plastic) or higher-end glass. Electronics industry anti-scratch coatings often contain the anti-scratch additive siloxane, and the anti-scratch fillers titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and silicon dioxide (SiO₂). The additives and filters are combined with a fluorocarbon resin. Fluorocarbon resin is an oleophobic material that repels the skin surface lipids that are left on screens as fingerprints.

Anti-scratch coatings are often used on plastic products wherever weather or chemical resistance is required. They also help maintain optical clarity. Examples include optical discs, displays, injection-molded parts, gauges and other instruments, mirrors, signs, protective goggles, and cosmetic packaging. These coatings are usually water-based or solvent-based.^{[citation needed][citation needed]}

Scratch-resistant materials are present in anti-scratch coating either as binders, additives, and/or fillers. Binder, additives, and filters together make up an anti-scratch coating's thin-film, a nanometer- to micrometer- thickness layer applied to an object's surface.

In anti-scratch coatings, binders are a coatings' glue-like cohesive structure, and provide scratch resistance or/and provide structure for scratch-resistant additives and fillers.

Binders that offer scratch resistances and structure include: