How does "are within" differ from "are completely within"?

The phrase "are within" encompasses features that may touch or intersect the boundaries of the selection, allowing for partial overlaps, which means that even if only a small part of a feature crosses into the selection area, it would still be considered "within." This can include edges or corners of the feature that touch the boundary of the selection.

On the other hand, "are completely within" specifies that the entire feature must be inside the selection area, with no part of its boundary crossing into the selection. This distinction is critical when performing spatial queries in GIS, as it affects how features are selected based on boundary interactions.

This understanding is foundational when working with GIS analysis, particularly in tasks requiring precise spatial relationships, such as environmental studies, land use planning, or resource management. Therefore, "are within" includes those boundary interactions while "are completely within" does not, making the first option correct in distinguishing between the two phrases.