Hardwood: Derived from deciduous trees that shed their leaves annually. These trees are typically slower-growing, resulting in denser and stronger wood. Examples include oak, maple, and mahogany.​   Softwood: Obtained from coniferous trees, which usually remain evergreen. Softwoods tend to grow faster, leading to lighter and less dense wood. Common examples are pine, cedar, and spruce.​   It’s important to note that the terms “hardwood” and “softwood” do not necessarily correlate with the actual hardness of the wood. For instance, balsa is a hardwood but is very soft, while yew is a softwood that is quite hard.