ArcGIS Pro Professional key terms

A container for spatial and attribute data stored in a file system, a relational database, or the cloud, holding feature classes, tables, rasters, and relationship rules that keep data consistent.

A single table of features that all share one geometry type, such as points, lines, or polygons, plus attribute fields; it is the basic vector layer stored in a geodatabase or shapefile.

A geodatabase folder that groups feature classes sharing one spatial reference and, when inside a database, one common coordinate space so they can take part in topology and geometric networks.

A named column in a feature class or table that stores one type of value, such as text, integer, date, or GUID, and defines what can be recorded for each feature.

A rule attached to a field that limits valid entries to a coded list or a numeric range, blocking invalid values during editing so attribute data stays consistent.

A way to split one feature class into named categories, such as road classes, each with its own default values and domain assignments, while all subtypes remain in a single feature class.

A rule that makes the allowed values in one field depend on the value chosen in another field, so editors see only valid combinations, for example pipe material choices that vary by pipe type.

A geodatabase object that defines an association between two tables or feature classes, including cardinality, whether messages propagate, and whether related records can exist independently.

The coordinate system definition for a dataset, combining a horizontal coordinate system, a vertical datum when needed, and tolerances, so coordinates can be placed correctly on the earth.

A mathematical method that converts locations on the curved earth into flat map coordinates, always introducing some distortion in distance, area, shape, or direction.

The framework of axes, units, and origin used to express positions, such as a geographic system in degrees or a projected system in meters or feet.

A reference surface, such as mean sea level or an ellipsoid, against which elevation or depth values are measured, needed whenever heights must be compared or combined accurately.

A set of rules that defines valid spatial relationships among features in a feature dataset, such as no gaps or no overlaps, and lets you find and fix violations.

A scripted or expression-based rule stored in a geodatabase that calculates field values, enforces constraints, or triggers edits automatically when features are created or changed.

The framework of tools that create, modify, or analyze data by running operations on inputs and writing outputs, available in tools, models, scripts, and the Python window.

A container that organizes geoprocessing tools, models, and scripts into toolsets, which can be system toolboxes, custom toolboxes, or project toolboxes stored in a project.

Settings that control how a tool runs, such as output coordinate system, processing extent, cell size, snap raster, and workspace, applied per tool, per session, or per model.

A visual editor for chaining geoprocessing tools into a model where outputs feed later inputs, with variables, parameters, and preconditions, and which can be run or exported to Python.

A geoprocessing tool built from a Python script with defined parameters so it behaves like a standard tool, accepting inputs and returning outputs through arcpy.

The Python site package that exposes ArcGIS Pro geoprocessing tools, mapping functions, and data access cursors, letting workflows be scripted, repeated, and scheduled.

An ArcPy object that walks through table rows one at a time for reading, inserting, updating, or deleting records, with search, insert, and update cursor types.

A temporary operation that appends fields from one table to another based on a shared key or spatial relationship, without physically merging the source datasets.

A geoprocessing tool that transfers attributes from one layer to another based on their spatial relationship, such as within, intersect, or closest, and can summarize matching features.

A defined association between two tables that does not add fields to either one; selections in one table can highlight related records in the other without changing the data.

A project log that records each tool run with its parameters, inputs, and outputs, so results can be reviewed, rerun, or copied into a script or model.

The behavior in which layers with different coordinate systems are drawn together by transforming them to the map's coordinate system for display, without altering the source data.

The rules that determine how features are drawn, such as single symbol, unique values, graduated colors, graduated symbols, or unclassed colors, based on attribute values or geometry.

The algorithm that groups numeric values into classes for graduated symbology, such as equal interval, quantile, natural breaks, or standard deviation, which changes the map's message.

Dividing a numeric field by another value, such as area or population, to create a ratio for mapping, which prevents large areas or big totals from dominating the visual pattern.

Text placed on a map automatically from feature attributes, positioned by label engine rules and styled with label classes, separate from annotation that is manually placed.

Stored text features that can be placed, edited, and curved by hand, giving precise control over map text in exchange for more manual maintenance than labels.

The advanced label placement engine in ArcGIS Pro that resolves conflicts, follows feature shapes, and applies detailed placement rules, such as street label stacking and water label curving.

A page design that arranges one or more maps, legends, scale bars, north arrows, text, and other elements for printing or export at a defined page size and orientation.

A layout element that holds a map and its extent, scale, rotation, and clipping, so one layout can show several views of the same data at different scales.

A layout feature that generates a page for each index feature or page name, updating the map frame extent and dynamic text so one layout produces many pages.

Layout text that updates automatically from the current map, such as page number, data frame name, coordinate system, date, or the active map series page attribute.

A saved layout file that can be reused to build new layouts with consistent page size, element positions, and styling, optionally linked to a project for shared use.

A reference in a map or scene to a data source, plus its display settings such as symbology, visibility range, definition query, and labeling, without copying the source data.

A SQL filter stored on a layer that restricts which features are drawn and selectable, letting one dataset show different subsets in different maps.

A hosted layer published to a portal, such as a feature layer, tile layer, or map image layer, that other users and apps can display and, when enabled, edit.

A web layer that serves vector features with attributes and supports querying and, if configured, editing, either from a hosted source or a registered database.

An organization's ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise site where content is stored, shared with groups, searched, and used by apps, with roles and privileges controlling access.

The act of publishing content to a portal and setting who can access it, such as the owner, specific groups, the whole organization, or everyone, at defined privilege levels.

A portal collection of users and shared items used to control access to content, with membership and sharing options that determine who can view or contribute.

A guided, step-by-step workflow configured in a project or shared to a portal, presenting a set of actions and instructions so others can complete a repeatable process correctly.