When selecting by location, what does "within" refer to regarding boundaries?

The concept of "within" when selecting by location in GIS means that a feature must be fully contained inside the specified boundaries. This implies that for a feature to be considered "within" the boundary, none of its parts can fall outside of the defining boundary line or area. This is particularly important in spatial analysis, where the precision of location-based queries directly impacts the results of analyses or mapping outputs.

In comparisons to other interpretations within this context, understanding the implications of boundaries helps clarify why the selected definition is the most applicable. For instance, referencing the notion of touching the boundary would deviate from the strict requirement of full containment. Furthermore, the idea of being on both sides of the boundary contradicts the very essence of defining a spatial relationship rooted in being "within." Lastly, a partial overlap introduces ambiguity that does not align with the strict parameters set by the "within" condition defined by boundaries.