Answer two questions about what the valve must do and we'll recommend the right type, with a link to learn more.
Start with the valve's main job: isolation (full open/close), throttling (flow control), or backflow prevention. Then refine by line size, shutoff tightness, pressure-drop limits and the media. Ball and gate valves suit isolation, globe and control valves suit throttling, and check valves prevent reverse flow.
Both are isolation valves. A ball valve is quarter-turn, gives bubble-tight shutoff and operates fast; a gate valve has a full bore and the lowest pressure drop but operates slowly and is less suited to frequent cycling.