Any textile that is used for its functional characteristics is known as technical textile. The appearance and aesthetics of technical textiles are secondary and their functionality is primary factor for their usage. They are high performance fabrics that are primarily used for non-consumer applications. As such, industrial fabrics are essentially technical textile.

Various types of raw materials are used by technical textiles industry which include metals, like steel; minerals, like asbestos and glass; synthetic polymers, like PES, PA, PAN, PP etc.;
regenerated fibers like rayon fibers and acetate fibers; natural fibers like cotton fibers, jute fibers, wool fibers etc. Also, various processes are employed for manufacturing technical textiles that range from processes like weaving and knitting to stitch bonding, chemical, thermal bonding, needle punching and many more.

Technical textiles made from so many different types of raw materials and processes can be classified into many categories based upon their end uses.

Agrotech: or Agro-textiles are used in agricultural applications concerned with growing and harvesting of crops and animals.
Buildtech: or Construction textiles are used in construction and architectural applications, such as for concrete reinforcement, insulation, air conditioning, noise prevention etc. which are extensively used in football stadia, airports and hotels.
Clothtech: or Clothing textiles are all those textile products that represent functional components, of clothing and footwear such as interlinings, sewing thread, insulating fibrefill and waddings.
Geotech: or Geotextiles are woven, nonwoven and knit fabric used for civil and coastal engineering, earth and road construction, dam engineering, soil sealing and in drainage systems etc.
Hometech: or Domestic textiles are used in many hoHigh Performance Technical TextilesHigh Performance Technical Textilesme furnishing fabrics including carpet backings, curtains, wall coverings, etc.
Indutech: or Industrial Textiles have wide applications in many industries for activities like separating and purifying industrial products, cleaning gases and effluents, transporting materials between processes etc. Nets, brushes and conveyor belts are good examples of industrial textile.

Medtech: or Medical textiles are the medical fabrics used in health and hygiHigh Performance Technical Textilesene applications generally in bandages and High Performance Technical Textilessutures eHigh Performance Technical Textilestc.

Mobiltech: are the textiles used in transport industry for construction purposes in automobiles, railways, ships etc. Truck covers, ropes, tarpaulins, seat covers, seat belts, parachutes, inflatable boats, air balloons are all examples of mobiltech.

Oekotech: or Eco-friendly fabrics are mostly used in environmental protection applications - floor sealing, erosion protection, air cleaning, prevention of water pollution, water cleaning, waste treatment/recycling along with making clothing, home furnishings etc. Eco- friendly fibers are fast becoming popular due to their low impact on environment.

Packtech: or Packaging textiles are used for packaging and range from heavyweight woven fabrics used for bags, packaging sacks etc. to the lightweight nonwovens used as durable papers, tea bags and other food and industrial product wrappings.

Protech: or Protective textiles are used in the manufacturing of protective clothing that provide protection against heat, radiation, molten metals etc. to the industrial workers. Bullet proof jackets, astronauts suits etc. are the examples of protective clothing.

Sporttech: or Sports textiles are used for making sports wear and other sports accessories. Synthetic fibers and coatings have largely replaced traditional cotton fabrics and other natural fibers in the production of sports textile.