Are navy beans the same as white beans?

Navy beans and white beans are not exactly the same, though they are closely related. Navy beans are a specific variety of white bean, known for their small size and oval shape. Both types belong to the same species, Phaseolus vulgaris, but "white beans" can also refer to other varieties, such as cannellini or great northern beans. Therefore, while all navy beans are white beans, not all white beans are navy beans.