Are baseboards considered molding?

Baseboards are indeed classified as a primary type of interior molding, specifically serving as the protective and decorative trim installed horizontally along the bottom of interior walls where they meet the floor. From an architectural perspective, baseboards fulfill multiple essential functions: they cover the necessary expansion gaps left between drywall and flooring materials during installation, protect lower wall surfaces from accidental scuffs caused by shoes, furniture, and vacuum cleaners, and provide a polished visual transition between the vertical wall plane and the horizontal flooring. While sometimes colloquially referred to simply as trim, baseboards possess the distinct, profiled shape and decorative characteristics that categorize them squarely within the broader family of interior architectural moldings, often coordinated in style with matching crown molding and door casings.