Ruda is a comune (municipality) in the Regional decentralization entity of Udine, in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. It is located in the northeastern part of Italy, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) northwest of Trieste and about 30 kilometres (19 mi) southeast of Udine.
The comune falls within the administrative area centred on the city of Udine, the principal centre of the region's eastern half. Its position between Udine and Trieste places it in the lowland zone of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, a region that borders Austria and Slovenia and includes both Alpine terrain and the Adriatic coast.
Ruda is one of the many small municipalities that make up the densely settled plain of the Friuli region, a territory historically shaped by a mix of Italian, Friulian, and Slavic influences. As a comune, it forms a basic unit of local government in Italy, responsible for local administration within its boundaries.