What is the difference between Color, linear color, and masks in Material Expression Texture Base?

What is the difference between Color, linear color,masks in Material Expression Texture Base (sampler type)?

When should I use each of Color, linear color, and masks?

Is there a site where I can double-click Material to create TextureObjectParameter and check the usage of the menus displayed in the Sampler Type of the Material Expression Texture Base menu?

I recently started studying, but there are so many things I don’t know.

Thank you for reading it.