They are similar because they both have a similar need for electrons. An ionic bond is a bond between a metal and a nonmetal and a covalent bond is a bond between two nonmetals.
Ionic bonding<span> occurs between atoms that have opposite needs for electrons (metals and nonmetals) and results in a transfer of electrons. </span>Covalent bonding<span> occurs between atoms that have </span>similar<span> needs for electrons (two nonmetals) and results in a sharing of electrons.</span>