Noncovalent systems are adaptive and allow facile processing and recycling. Can
they be at the same time robust? How can one rationally design such systems? Can they compete
with high-performance covalent materials? The recent literature reveals that noncovalent systems
can be robust yet adaptive, self-healing, and recyclable, featuring complex nanoscale structures and
unique functions. We review such systems, focusing on the rational design of strong noncovalent
interactions, kinetically controlled pathway-dependent processes, complexity, and function. The
overview of the recent examples points at the emergent field of noncovalent nanomaterials that can
represent a versatile, multifunctional, and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional
covalent systems.