a single user and do not support geodatabase versioning. Enterprise geodatabases can be edited and used simultaneously by many users. They provide support for several common database management systems (DBMSs), including Oracle®, PostgreSQL, and Microsoft® SQL Server. Refer to the Help documentation for detailed tables comparing the number of users, supported storage formats, and key workflows of each of the supported geodatabase types.
When you have decided which type of geodatabase to use, you can create it using one of these methods:
1 Design a new, empty geodatabase.
2 Copy and modify an existing geodatabase schema.
3 Import the schema from other data sources.
When the geodatabase has been created, you can begin using it to organize your feature classes, raster datasets, tables, and more. You can add data to a geodatabase by creating and adding new datasets directly to it, copying and pasting datasets using the Catalog pane or the Catalog window, or using geoprocessing tools to import data from existing locations or convert data from other data formats. This table lists elements that you can create and manage in a geodatabase.
Elements managed in a geodatabase
After you add data to a geodatabase, you can extend its capabilities using rules that manage attribute values and provide additional support in multiuser editing environments. This table lists capabilities for extending feature classes and tables.
Methods for extending feature classes and tables
Geodatabases can store more than feature classes, raster datasets, and tables; they also support advanced data elements such as feature datasets, topology, geometric networks, address locators, and mosaic datasets. Feature datasets are especially important because they form the foundation of topologies, network datasets, geometric networks, terrains, and parcel fabrics. A feature dataset organizes thematically or spatially related feature classes into a collection of features that have a common coordinate system. For example, if you had a series of point, line, and polygon feature classes representing hydrologic features, you could combine them into a “hydrologic features” feature dataset. After the feature dataset was created, you could include all the participating features in a network or a geodatabase topology.
Prepare
These topics in the documentation provide details about geodatabase fundamentals.
Gain a thorough understanding of these ArcGIS Pro Help topics:
Help > Data > Geodatabases > The geodatabase >Fundamentals of the geodatabaseTypes of geodatabasesFeature class basicsTable basics
Help > Data > Geodatabases > Create a geodatabase (and all subtopics)
Help > Data > Geodatabases > Add datasets to a geodatabase >Create datasets in a geodatabaseCopy feature datasets, feature classes, and tables to a geodatabaseImport data
Help > Data > Geodatabases > Data design (and all subtopics)
Help > Data > Geodatabases > Versioned data > Overview of versioning
Help > Data > Data types > Feature datasets > Feature datasets in ArcGIS Pro
Gain a thorough understanding of these ArcMap Help topics:
Manage data > Geodatabases > An overview of the geodatabase >A quick tour of the geodatabaseTypes of geodatabasesFeature class basicsTable basics
Manage data > Data types > Tables > Designing a table > ArcGIS field data types
Manage data > Data types > Subtypes (and all subtopics)
Manage data > Geodatabases > Working with versioned data > An overview of versioning
