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'''Artificial turf''' is a surface of [[synthetic fiber]]s made to look like natural [[grass]]. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. It is now being used on residential lawns and commercial applications. The main reason is maintenance{{snd}}artificial turf stands up to heavy use, such as in sports, and requires no [[irrigation]] or trimming, unless the turf is of the hybrid type, combining the plastics with natural grass, with the notable exception of irrigating to reduce the high temperatures the turf reaches in summer days.  Domed, covered, and partially covered stadiums may require artificial turf because of the difficulty of getting grass enough sunlight to stay healthy. 

Artificial turf has many downsides:  high cost, limited life, periodic cleaning requirements, petroleum use, toxic and carcinogenic chemicals in the infill material, high temperatures attained, contribution to global warming, inability to recycle, and heightened health and safety concerns.

Artificial turf first gained substantial attention in 1966, when it was installed in the year-old [[Astrodome]]. The specific product used was "ChemGrass", developed by [[Monsanto]] and rebranded as [[AstroTurf]]; this term since then became a [[generic trademark]] for any artificial turf throughout the late 20th century. AstroTurf remains a registered trademark but is no longer owned by Monsanto.

The first generation turf systems (i.e., short-pile fibers without infill) of the 1960s have been largely replaced by the second generation and third generation turf systems. Second-generation synthetic turf systems feature longer fibers and sand infills, and third-generation systems, which are most widely used today, offer infills that are mixtures of sand and granules of [[recycled rubber]], or "rubber crumb".