A face covering is a broad term for any material used to cover the nose and mouth, including homemade cloth masks, bandanas, scarves, and neck gaiters. It provides a basic barrier to reduce the spread of respiratory droplets. A face mask is a more specific type of face covering designed for higher filtration and protection, such as surgical masks or medical-grade masks. Both serve to reduce the transmission of viruses and illnesses by covering the nose and mouth, but face masks generally offer better filtration and protection compared to simpler face coverings.