Softwood actually refers to the wood of coniferous trees. The group of softwoods is also occasionally referred to as resin wood because it contains significantly more resin than hardwoods.

Softwood is generally more homogeneous than the wood of deciduous trees. It is more weatherproof and resistant to fungal attack and corrosion-resistant to chemicals, partly because of its high resin content. Due to its low shrinkage, it is also more stable in terms of shape and dimension than many deciduous woods. In combination with its good workability, these properties allow for a wide range of uses, particularly as construction and sawn timber.