Self-healing　is　a　natural　phenomenon　whereby　living　organisms　respond　to　damage.　Recently,　considerable　research　efforts　have　been　invested　in　self-healing　cementitious　materials　that　are　capable　of　restoring　structural　integrity　and　mechanical　properties　after　being　damaged.　Inspired　by　nature,　a　variety　of　creative　approaches　are　explored　here　based　on　the　intrinsic　or　extrinsic　healing　mechanism.　Research　on　new　intrinsic　self-healing　cementitious　materials　with　biomimetic　features　is　on　the　forefront　of　material　science,　which　provides　a　promising　way　to　construct　resilient　and　sustainable　concrete　infrastructures.　Here,　the　current　advances　in　the　development　of　the　intrinsic　healing　cementitious　materials　are　described,　and　a　new　definition　of　intrinsic　self-healing　discussed.　The　methods　to　assess　the　efficiency　of　different　healing　mechanisms　are　briefly　summarized.　The　critical　insights　are　emphasized　to　guide　the　future　research　on　the　development　of　new　self-healing　cementitious　materials.　©　2018　WILEY-VCH　Verlag　GmbH　&　Co.　KGaA,　Weinheim