In Windchill, the commonspace consists of the sum of folder locations that are accessible to any user with appropriate access privileges. The commonspace is typically comprised of (subdivided into) many Windchill contexts.

A workspace is a private area, created by a single user within a single context. In essence, it is a folder location within the context that is accessible only to the individual user. It has a unique characteristic, in that it can be registered with supported CAD applications to be the default data storage and retrieval location. For more information, see Introduction to the Workspace