What is the term used to describe features that are connected or share a border?

The term that accurately describes features that are connected or share a border is contiguity. In geographic contexts, contiguity refers to the relationship between spatial features that are next to or touching each other. It is an important concept in GIS and spatial analysis since it helps in understanding how different geographic areas interact, influence one another, and how certain spatial patterns emerge.

Contiguity is often used when analyzing demographic data, environmental components, or urban planning topics, where the interactions between neighboring areas are significant for various analyses, such as resource distribution or ecological impacts.

While adjacency also pertains to features that are next to each other, contiguity often encompasses a broader relationship that includes considerations of shared borders and connectedness in a more comprehensive geographic framework. Proximity refers to the physical closeness of features but does not necessarily imply they share a border, while overlap describes scenarios where features occupy the same space, which is different from simply being adjacent or touching.