Like all work tools, shovels have variations that make them more specialised for certain tasks, but these variations have similar designs and are easy to overlook, so if a buyer doesn't pay attention they could end up digging with a shovel designed to move sand, or moving sand with a shovel for digging.
Digging shovel: recognisable by their thinner edges, shallow depth and triangular or round design. They are best for use in the garden as they can remove grass, cut roots and dig holes without much effort. If you are a gardening enthusiast, it would do you a lot of good to have one of these on hand.
Shovel for moving materials: identified because they are more concave, their edge is usually square although some can be round or triangular. They are most efficient for picking up materials from the ground such as sand, gravel or cement powder. If you usually work on construction sites, then a shovel will help you.
If you only need one shovel for use in your yard, you could buy either of these shovels, as both can handle the simplest of tasks. But in case you need a shovel to accomplish specific tasks efficiently, then it is better to pay attention to the type of shovel you are going to buy.