“Mapping… often refers to the action of applying a function to the elements of its domain. This terminology is not completely fixed, as these terms are generally not formally defined.” (“Map (mathematics),” Wikipedia, retrieved 6/15/2020)
(Using “Ctrl-f” to search for “mapping” in the article “Function (mathematics),” Wikipedia, searched 6/15/2020, was also helpful)
As a noun (a “map” or a “mapping”), the definition is more confusing. The opening paragraphs of the “Map (mathematics)” article mentioned earlier seem to have a good, if difficult to read, summary. The gist is that saying “a map” or a “mapping” can often, but not always, be considered synonymous with saying “a function.”
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Disclaimer:
I am not a professional in this field, nor do I claim to know all of the jargon that is typically used in this field. I am not summarizing my sources; I simply read from a variety of websites until I feel like I understand enough about a topic to move on to what I actually wanted to learn. By definition, none of these posts address every aspect of a topic. If I am inaccurate in what I say or you know a better, simpler way to explain a concept, I would be happy to hear from you :).
