Geography studies both the features of Earth and the way they are arranged. Space, in geographic usage, refers to the continuous extent in which objects and events occur and have relative position and direction. It is the framework within which location and distance are measured.

Absolute space is treated as a fixed container, described by coordinates. Relative space emphasizes relationships and connections that can shrink or stretch with changes in transport and communication. Relational space focuses on how social processes produce spatial configurations.

Concepts of space underpin mapping, spatial analysis, and theories of uneven development. The same physical distance can represent very different degrees of separation depending on infrastructure and technology. Geographers continually refine how space is conceptualized and measured.

• Extent in which geographic features are arranged
• Described in absolute, relative, or relational terms
• Foundation for location and distance
• Central to spatial analysis