what is the difference between the .mask and .updateMask

Question

var l8 =ee.ImageCollection('LANDSAT/LC08/C01/T2_TOA')

var landsat2016 = l8.filterDate('2016-01-01', '2016-12-31');

var median = l8.filterDate('2016-01-01', '2016-12-31').median();

// Load or import the Hansen et al. forest change dataset.
var hansenImage = ee.Image('UMD/hansen/global_forest_change_2015');

// Select the land/water mask.
var datamask = hansenImage.select('datamask');

// Create a binary mask.
var mask = datamask.eq(1);

// Update the composite mask with the water mask.

var maskedComposite = median.mask(mask);

var maskedComposite2 = median.updateMask(mask);

So what the difference between maskedComposite and maskedComposite2?

Answer 1

In the way you apply the mask and updateMask, there is no difference. I would rather use updateMask, as this is written about the mask function:

Note: the version that sets a mask will be deprecated. To set a mask from an image on previously unmasked pixels, use Image.updateMask. To unmask previously masked pixels, use Image.unmask.