A patrol boat is a small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defence duties.

There have been many designs for patrols boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine (blue water) and/or estuarine or river ("brown water") environments. They are commonly found engaged in various border protection roles, including anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, fisheries patrols, and immigration law enforcement. They are also often called upon to participate in rescue operations.

They may be broadly classified as Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs) and Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs)

They are warships typically smaller in size than a Corvette and can include fast attack craft, torpedo boats and missile boats, although some are as large as a frigate. The offshore patrol vessels are usually the smallest ship in a Navy's fleet that are large and seaworthy enough to patrol off-shore in the open ocean. In larger militaries, such as in the United States Military, offshore patrol vessels usually serve in the Coast Guard, but many smaller nations navys' operate these type of ships.

During both World Wars in order to rapidly build up numbers, all sides created auxiliary patrol boats by arming motor boats and sea going fishing boats with machine guns and obsolescent naval weapons. Some modern patrol vessels are still based on fishing and leisure boats.

Seagoing patrol boats are typically around 30m (100 ft) in length and usually carry a single medium caliber artillery gun as main armament, and a variety of lighter secondary armament such as machine guns or a close-in weapon system. Depending on role, vessels in this class may also have more sophisticated sensors and fire control systems that would enable them to carry torpedoes, anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles. Most modern designs are powered by gas turbine arrangements such as CODAG, and speeds are generally in the 25-30 knot range. They are primarily used for patrol in a country's exclusive economic zone. Common tasks are fisheries inspection, anti-smuggling (usually anti-narcotics) duties, illegal immigration patrols, anti-piracy patrols and search and rescue (law enforcement-type of work). The largest OPVs might also have a flight deck and helicopter embarked. In times of crisis or war, these vessels are expected to support the larger vessels in the navy.

Their small size and relatively low cost make them one of the most common type of warship in the world. Almost all navies operate at least a few offshore patrol vessels, especially those with only "green water" capabilites. They are useful in smaller seas such as the North Sea as well as in open oceans.

Similar vessels for exclusively military duties include torpedo boats and missile boats. The United States Navy operated the Pegasus class of armed hydrofoils for years, in a patrol boat role.

The River Patrol Boat (sometimes called "Riverine" and "Pibber") is a USA design of small patrol boat type designed to patrol waters of large rivers.

Patrol Boat was an Australian television drama series that screened on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Patrol Boat was created by James Davern and two series were produced in 1979 and 1983, with a total of 26 episodes.

Patrol Boat was about the activities of the crew of a Royal Australian Navy patrol boat which patrolled Australia's coastline. The series was produced with the co-operation of the Royal Australian Navy.

Two fictional RAN patrol boats were depicted in the series: Attack class patrol boat HMAS Ambush (portrayed by HMA Ships Advance and Bombard) was used in the first season, with the crew transferring to the newer Fremantle class patrol boat HMAS Defiance (portrayed by HMA Ships Launceston, Townsville, Warrnambool, Whyalla, and Wollongong) in the second season.

Although the 2007 drama Sea Patrol is based on the same subject, it is not intended to be a follow on to Patrol Boat.

The Royal Australian Navy Attack class patrol boats HMAS Advance and HMAS Bombard were used in the first season, portraying the fictional HMAS Ambush.

Fremantle class patrol boats HMA Ships Launceston, Townsville, Warrnambool, Whyalla and Wollongong were used as the fictional HMAS Defiance in the second season.