The word mapping has several senses:

• In mathematics and related technical fields, it is some kind of function: see map (mathematics).
• In formal logic, it is sometimes used for a functional predicate.
• In computer science, it is usually a computable function, a procedure, or a table, e.g. relating a key to its value in an associative array. Also: the mapping of transient data structures (e.g. objects) to persistent data structures (e.g. relational data tables).
• In cognitive psychology, it is the relationship between a source domain and target domain , typically reflecting a conceptual metaphor.
• In computer gaming, it is the term used for building an environment for gamers to play in.
• In 3D computer graphics, it refers to the process of applying a 2D image to the surfaces of a 3D object.
• In topology mapping class group
• In operating system, it means associating addresses from outside the address space of a computer process into it's address space. See memory mapping and Memory-mapped I/O.

See also: map, cartography