The corrosion inhibition characteristics of N'-[(1E)-(4-hydroxy phenyl) methylene] isonicotinohydrazide (HIH) & N'-[(1E)-(4-hydroxyl-3-methoxy phenyl) methylene] isonicotinohydrazide (HMIH) on mild steel corrosion in 1 M hydrochloric acid were investigated by weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization and impedance techniques. The inhibition efficiency increased with increase in inhibitor concentration but decreased with increase in temperature. The thermodynamic functions of dissolution and adsorption processes were evaluated. The polarization measurements indicated that the inhibitors are of mixed type. The adsorption of the compounds was found to obey Langmuir's adsorption isotherm. Passive film characterization was done by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).