AbstractThe search for electron sources with simultaneous optimal spatial and temporal resolution has become an area of intense activity for a wide variety of applications in the emerging fields of lightwave electronics and attosecond science. Most recently, increasing efforts are focused on the investigation of ultrafast field‐emission phenomena of nanomaterials, which not only are fascinating from a fundamental scientific point of view, but also are of interest for a range of potential applications. Here, the current state‐of‐the‐art in ultrafast field‐emission, particularly sub‐optical‐cycle field emission, based on various nanostructures (e.g., metallic nanotips, carbon nanotubes) is reviewed. A number of promising nanomaterials and possible future research directions are also established.