What is the difference between geospatial and GIS?

Geospatial technology is a broad term that encompasses many different forms of geographic mapping and imagery technology, of which GIS is one form. Other forms of geospatial data include those derived from GPS technology, zip codes or census data, and mapping coordinates. Therefore, it is more useful to think of GIS as a form of geospatial technology rather than a different field of research or technology. Specifically, GIS technology layers geographic data in mapping software, which analysts can use to map the data or compare it to other information loaded into the same program.