Why is a saxophone considered a woodwind even though it is usually made of metal?

The classification of the saxophone as a woodwind is not based on the material from which it is constructed, but rather on its method of sound production and its historical classification within the orchestra.12

While the term "woodwind" historically referred to instruments traditionally made of wood, such as flutes, clarinets, oboes, and bassoons, many modern woodwinds are made of metal. The saxophone is classified as a woodwind because it utilizes a single reed mouthpiece and a fingering technique similar to that of the clarinet.23

Classifying instruments by material is considered inaccurate, as it does not apply consistently across different cultures or modern manufacturing practices. Instead, woodwinds are distinguished from brass instruments by how they produce sound: woodwinds use a reed or an edge to set an air column in motion, whereas brass instruments rely on the vibration of the player's lips against a mouthpiece.123