Artificial turf is a synthetic flooring or ground-covering material made from a backing, usually of plastic or rubber, with densely arranged grass-like plastic blades sticking up from it. Longer straight blades or fibers often alternate with shorter curled ones which keep the longer ones upright. Artificial turf is most commonly colored green to resemble grass.

The grasslike blades are manufactured fibers attached to a backing. This distinguishes artificial turf from a living grass surface and from a plain rubber sheet without projecting blades. Green coloring is common, but the fiber arrangement defines the material.

Sports markings do not determine whether a surface is artificial turf. Lines can be incorporated into the installation or applied with paints, including products designed for removal; permanent lines are not a requirement of the material.