Softwood is wood that comes from coniferous trees, the kind that typically have needles instead of flat leaves and bear cones instead of flowers. Pine, spruce, fir, cedar, and redwood are all softwoods.

The name is misleading: softwood doesn't necessarily mean the wood is actually soft. Some softwoods like pine are relatively easy to dent or scratch, but others like longleaf pine are quite hard and durable. The term really describes the type of tree, not how hard you can squeeze it.

Softwood trees grow faster than hardwood trees (which come from broad-leafed trees like oak and maple), making softwood less expensive and more readily available. That's why most houses in America are built with softwood lumber: the wooden frame inside your walls is probably pine or fir. Softwood is also used for paper, cardboard, plywood, and other construction materials.

When you're building something and need to choose wood, softwoods are typically easier to cut, nail, and work with, though they're also more likely to get scratched or dinged than hardwoods. A softwood pine desk might show wear faster than a hardwood oak desk, but it costs less and works perfectly fine for many purposes.