A review: An overview on third-order nonlinear optical and optical limiting properties of Schiff bases

•Third order nonlinear optical properties of Schiff bases.•Optical limiting characteristics of Schiff bases.•Factors influencing the nonlinear response of Schiff bases. This review provides an overview of the third order nonlinear optical properties exhibited by Schiff base materials. The article discusses the fundamental principles underlying third order nonlinear optical properties, two photon absorption, and optical limiting. Furthermore, it examines the factors influencing the nonlinear response of Schiff base molecules, including molecular structure, conjugation length, substituents, electronic transitions, and external stimuli. This article intends to serve as a comprehensive resource for the current understanding of these properties and also highlight the potential applications of Schiff bases, in order to contribute to the advancement of the field and to stimulate further research in this area.