Are ribs and spare ribs the same thing?

No, ribs and spare ribs are not the same thing. "Ribs" is a general term that can refer to various cuts of meat from the ribcage of an animal, typically pork or beef. Spare ribs specifically come from the lower portion of the pig's ribcage, situated below the more meaty loin. They are generally larger and meatier than baby back ribs, which come from the upper part of the ribcage.