What is the difference between Onion and Shallot?

When it comes to cooking, many might be confused with the difference between these two ingredients that resemble themselves: onion and shallot though one can be used to substitute the other in meals. However, the expert cooks find it easy to identify the difference between them in taste and texture they give every meal. Onion is the popular name usually used for the plants that belong to the genus Allium, but the real onion is normally referred to as the "bulb or garden Onion" with the botanical name Allium cepa.

The garden onion usually has a bulb shape, and almost flat like disc shape sometimes. Their colors are usually red, white, or yellow. Their taste also depends on their variety; it can be sweet, mild, pungent, tangy, spicy, or sharp. The botanical name for shallot is Allium ascalonicum. Shallot can have an elongated onion shape. They are kind of sweeter and milder in taste than onion; they have a hint of garlic taste too.