Anil or woad are both dyestuffs, with anil being a synthetic DYE and woad being a natural DYE. Both are used to DYE fabrics and other materials, and are composed of different chemical compounds. Anil is derived from indigo, while woad is derived from the plant Isatis tinctoria. Both dyes have been used for centuries, with anil being used in India since ancient times and woad being used in Europe since the Middle Ages.