What is the term for a comparison of two similar but different things to clarify an action or a relationship?

The term that describes a comparison of two similar but different things to clarify an action or a relationship is "analogy." An analogy is used to explain or illustrate an idea or concept by highlighting similarities between two different scenarios, often making complex ideas more relatable and understandable.

For instance, if one were to explain how a car engine functions by comparing it to the way the heart pumps blood, they would be creating an analogy to clarify the relationship between the two processes. This technique is particularly useful in writing and speech, as it helps to make abstract concepts more tangible to the audience.

In contrast, a metaphor involves a direct comparison without using "like" or "as," focusing on one thing as if it were another, which doesn’t provide the same clarity about the relationship. A simile is similar but explicitly uses "like" or "as" for comparison, making it less effective for the deeper clarification that an analogy offers. Personification attributes human qualities to non-human entities, which does not serve the purpose of comparing two different things.