BIGpedia - Mapping - Encyclopedia and Dictionary Online

The word mapping has several senses:

In mathematics and related technical fields, it is some kind of function: see map (mathematics).
In formal logic, it is sometimes used for a functional predicate.
In computer science, it is usually a computable function, a procedure, or a table, e.g. relating a key to its value in an associative array. Also: the mapping of transient data structures (e.g. objects) to persistent data structures (e.g. relational data tables).
In cognitive psychology, it is the relationship between a source domain and target domain , typically reflecting a conceptual metaphor.
In computer gaming, it is the term used for building an environment for gamers to play in.
In 3D computer graphics, it refers to the process of applying a 2D image to the surfaces of a 3D object.
In topology mapping class group
In operating system, it means associating addresses from outside the address space of a computer process into it's address space. See memory mapping and Memory-mapped I/O.