GIS is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographically referenced data.

A GIS consists of hardware (computers and peripherals), software (GIS applications), and data (spatial and non-spatial).

Digitizing is the process of converting analog maps, aerial photographs, or other hardcopy documents into digital data.

Georeferencing is the process of assigning geographic coordinates to a feature so that it can be located on a map.

Interpolation is the process of estimating values at unmeasured locations based on known values at measured locations.

Buffering is the process of creating a zone around a feature, such as a point, line, or polygon.

Vector data is the most common type of spatial data. It represents features as points, lines, and polygons.

Vector data is stored as points, lines, and polygons, while raster data is stored as a grid of cells.

Attribute data describes the characteristics of a spatial feature, such as its name, type, and size.

Metadata describes the content, quality, and structure of a dataset, such as its title, author, and date of creation.

Spatial analysis is the process of analyzing spatial data to identify patterns and relationships.

Buffer analysis, network analysis, overlay analysis, and interpolation are all common types of spatial analysis.

Mapping is the process of creating a map, which is a representation of the Earth's surface or a part of it.

Topographic maps, thematic maps, reference maps, and atlases are all common types of maps.

GIS collaboration, web mapping, spatial data sharing, and geospatial collaboration are all terms used to describe the process of sharing and collaborating on spatial data.