Difference between awareness and consciousness

Table highlighting some key differences

	Awareness	Consciousness
Definition	The state or ability to perceive, understand, and be cognizant of something or someone.	The state or quality of being aware of and able to think and perceive one’s surroundings and experiences.
Nature	Passive	Active
Scope	Limited	Broader
Level	Surface level	Deep level
Function	Processing of sensory input	Integration and interpretation of sensory input
Example	Being aware of a sound	Being conscious of the meaning of the sound
States	Being awake or asleep	Being awake or unconscious
Importance	Important for survival and basic functioning	Key to self-awareness, decision-making, and abstract thinking

The terms awareness and consciousness can be used interchangeably in some contexts, and their meanings may vary depending on the field of study or philosophical perspective.