Parquet flooring consists of wood pieces arranged in a decorative geometric pattern, such as herringbone or mosaic, as opposed to a simple parallel arrangement (which is listed as wood plank flooring). Unlike wood planks, parquet flooring is never structural; that is, it does not bear the load of persons and furniture across the floor span, but is applied to an underlying floor structure.

The pattern is formed by the arrangement of the wood pieces. A printed geometric image on a reconstituted board does not by itself establish a parquet floor; laminate identifies that different material form.

The supporting floor carries the span beneath the parquet covering. Wood planks have a parallel arrangement and may themselves span structurally, which is a separate construction form.