Texture describes the visual or tactile quality of a figure or object. Texture can be created visually (in a drawing, for example) through the use of multiple marks of sufficient similarity so as not to be initially perceived as individual figures. Texture can be created physically (in a sculpture, for example) through surface variation or the inherent properties of a material, such as sand as opposed to porcelain.

Related Concepts: Physical Texture, Apparent Texture, Reflectivity.

Texture is also a descriptor. The squares below are identical except for different texture for each square.
In the squares above, the second square has the strongest “tactile” sensibility… what would it feel like if you touched it? What would the fourth square feel like by comparison?