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The difference between Shapefile and Feature Class types within ArcGIS programs

Shapefile and Feature Class

• Layers within ArcGIS programs are among the most important vector data that these programs store, save, analyze and display in the display screen in ArcMap, in addition to using them to produce maps.
• Layers in general consist of geographical phenomena or features, whether they are saved as a Shapefile or Feature Class. In other words, you have a layer of a line type that represents the streets for a specific geographical area, the name of the layer is streets, and each street is considered a geographical phenomenon or a feature.
• When saving a layer as a Shapefile, this layer is viewed on the computer in the form of 8 files. When sending a Shapefile, the 8 files must be sent. Any lack of any file. This layer cannot be opened or opened, but it has a major malfunction and the following image represents the shape of the files for a layer of Shapefile type.

For the feature class, where it is saved within the dataset or within the geodatabase, and also the dataset is created within the geodatabase. Geodata and this file can be sent, then the geodatabase is opened and the dataset, layers, and data are displayed. The following image shows what the geodatabase file looks like.

So, to answer the question of this article, what is the difference between the types of layers in ArcGIS programs, we summarize the answer by defining and writing the properties of each type of layer:

1. Layer of Shapefile type:

It is a format for storing vector data in which it is saved with the geographical location and shape of geographical phenomena. In addition to linking these geographical phenomena to a table, it contains one feature class, meaning that there is no relationship between Shapefile files and their properties:

1. It is not possible to store a large number of geographical phenomena.
2. It may be damaged at any moment.
3. Difficulty sending, as losing any of its files leads to layer damage.
4. It can be used to store raw geographic information for points, lines, and polygons.

2. Feature Class:

It is a vector data storage format in which the geographic location and the shape of the geographical phenomena are saved and linked in the spreadsheet, and where it is saved within a data set or the geographic database. Many of these layers are saved within the geographic database and the data set where they are Establishing relationships between all these layers, and this greatly helps in supporting spatial, descriptive and statistical analysis, and the most important characteristics of these layers:

1. Accepts conservation of a large number of geographical phenomena.
2. It is saved in the form of a folder with the name of the geodatabase and it contains many files. Losing any file leads to the corruption of the geodatabase.
3. Ease of transmission requires only sending a geo-database file and then viewing the layer.
4. It is the final form of memorizing classes according to the goal, whether for work or study.
5. Determine the relationship between layers, this helps to use a lot of analysis and creation of topology and networks such as roads or water lines and others.

• It is recommended that you use the Feature Class for any project using ArcGIS software.