Editing Tile (section)

{{short description|Manufactured pieces for covering surfaces}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}

{{multiple image|perrow =2|total_width=300
| image1 = Alban chambon, decorazione in marmo e ceramica, dal castello reale delle ardenne, houyet, 1905 ca. 02.jpg
| image2 = Art Nouveau tiles in the house with number 6, Strada Speranței, Bucharest (Romania).jpg
| image3 = Greek key on a stove in the in the D.A. Sturdza House, in Bucharest.jpg
| image4 = Turkey; Iznik - Two Tiles - Google Art Project.jpg
| image5 = Ganshoren avenue Broustin 10 1002.jpg
| image6 = Villa Schutzenberger, detail of staircase.jpg
| image7 = Berchem-Sainte-Agathe avenue Josse Goffin 20.jpg
| image8 = 117 Horodotska Street, Lviv (11).jpg
| footer = Various examples of tiles
}}

'''Tiles''' are usually thin, square or rectangular coverings manufactured from hard-wearing material such as [[ceramic]], [[Rock (geology)|stone]], metal, baked clay, or even [[glass]]. They are generally fixed in place in an array to cover roofs, floors, walls, edges, or other objects such as tabletops.  Alternatively, tile can sometimes refer to similar units made from lightweight materials such as [[perlite]], [[wood]], and [[mineral wool]], typically used for wall and ceiling applications. In another sense, a tile is a construction tile or similar object, such as rectangular counters used in playing games (see [[tile-based game]]). The word is derived from the [[French Language|French]] word ''tuile'', which is, in turn, from the [[Latin Language|Latin]] word ''tegula'', meaning a roof tile composed of fired clay.

Tiles are often used to form wall and floor coverings, and can range from simple square tiles to complex or [[mosaic]]s. Tiles are most often made of [[pottery|ceramic]], typically [[Ceramic glaze|glazed]] for internal uses and unglazed for roofing, but other materials are also commonly used, such as glass, cork, [[concrete]] and other composite materials, and stone. Tiling stone is typically marble, onyx, granite or slate. Thinner tiles can be used on walls than on floors, which require more durable surfaces that will resist impacts.

Global production of ceramic tiles, excluding roof tiles, was estimated to be 12.7 [[billion]] m<sup>2</sup> in 2019.<ref>'World Production And Consumption Of Ceramic Tiles.' Ceramic World Review no. 138. Pg. 40</ref>