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A file GeoDataBase (GDB) is a collection of files in a folder on disk that can store, query, and manage both spatial (vector and raster) and nonspatial data. Its storage mechanism of platform is SQL Server Express (*.mdf)
Table of contents
- Purpose: Store, query, and manage both spatial (vector and raster) and nonspatial data.
- Data type: vector and raster
- Type of format: GIS
- Multi-file format: Yes
- File type: binary
- File extension(s): .gdb, .zip
- Originally developed by: Esri (2006)
- Technical description/specification: File geodatabase API
- License: Unknown
- Regulated by: Esri
- Status: proprietary
- Sample file(s): ArcGIS Online public File GeoDatabases
- Consumable by:
- ArcGIS Pro - How to
- ArcMap - How to
- ArcGIS Enterprise through ArcGIS Server - How to
- ArcGIS Runtime for Java (supported only if using local server)
- ArcGIS Runtime for .NET (supported only if using local server)
- ArcGIS Runtime for Qt (Supported only if using C++ API and local server. Not supported with QML API.)
- ArcObjects
- ...
It is the evolution from the personal geodatabase and it was introduced in ArcMap 9.2 (2006). It is also preferred over the shapefile.
Description: A collection of various types of GIS datasets held in a file system folder.(This is the recommended native data format for ArcGIS stored and managed in a file system folder.)
Number of users: Single user and small workgroups:many readers or one writer per feature dataset, stand-alone feature class, or table. Concurrent use of any specific file eventually degrades for large numbers of readers.
Storage format: Each dataset is a separate file on disk. A file geodatabase is a file folder that holds its dataset files.
Size limits: One TB for each dataset. Each file geodatabase can hold many datasets. The 1 TB limit can be raised to 256 TB for extremely large image datasets. Each feature class can scale up to hundreds of millions of vector features per dataset.
Versioning support: Only supported as a geodatabase for clients who post updates using checkout and check-in and as a client to which updates can be sent using one-way replication.
Platforms: Cross-platform.
Security and permissions: Operating file system security.
Database administration tools: File system management.
Notes: You can optionally store data in a read-only compressed format to reduce storage requirements.
- Vídeo: Geodatabase Fundamentals
- Comparing the three types of geodatabases
- License a file geodatabase: You can share data in a file geodatabase with other people and apply a license that determines the length of time they can use the data or whether they can export feature classes.
Mosaic dataset is the way to work with raster in a GeoDatabase an it reference to lo original source (TIF, ...)
Probably not all the resources are in this list, please use the ArcGIS Search tool looking for: ["file geodatabase"](https://esri-es.github.io/arcgis-search/?search="file geodatabase"&utm_campaign=awesome-list&utm_source=awesome-list&utm_medium=page).