ArcGIS Geodatabase Topology Rules

Topology in ESRI® ArcGIS® allows you to model spatial relationships

How to read
between feature classes in a feature dataset. Topology rules allow you to
these diagrams: Topology rule name
define those relationships between features in a single feature class or
subtype or between two feature classes or subtypes. Topology rules
allow you to define the spatial relationships that meet the needs of your Description and Description and
example of a valid example of a case of
data model. Topology errors are violations of the rules that you can The topology rule occurs within a case of the the specified topology
single feature class or subtype.
easily find and manage using the editing tools found in ArcMap™. specified topology rule where errors exist
rule. and will be returned.
For each example, the
error shape is shown in
: bright red.
Description of a real-world
The topology rule occurs between
two different feature classes or Generalized description of when to use this rule. application of the specified
subtypes. topology rule.

Line or Polygon
Must not overlap Must not have gaps Must be larger than cluster tolerance Must not have pseudonodes
Polygons must not Cluster tolerance is the
Polygon

Polygon
Polygons must not The end of a line
overlap within a minimum distance Cluster Tolerance cannot touch the end of
have a void between between vertices Any polygon or line
feature class or Line errors are created only one other line
them within a feature that would

Line

Line
subtype. from the outlines of void of features. within a feature class or
feature class collapse when Point errors are
Polygons can be areas in a single polygon subtype. The end of a
or subtype. Vertices that fall within validating the created where the
disconnected or between polygons. line can touch any part of
or touch at a point or Polygon errors are Polygon boundaries that the cluster tolerance are Cluster Tolerance topology is an error. end of a line
itself.
touch along created from areas are not coincident with defined as coincident and touches the end of
an edge. where polygons other polygon are snapped together. only one other line.
overlap. boundaries are errors.

Use this rule to make sure that no polygon overlaps another A voting district map cannot Use this rule when all of your polygons should form Soil polygons cannot include gaps This rule is applied to all line and polygon feature classes that Soil polygons must be larger Use this rule to clean up data with inappropriately For hydrologic analysis, segments of a river
have any overlaps in its coverage. or form voids—they must form a participate in the topology. than the cluster tolerance. system might be constrained to only have
polygon in the same feature class or subtype. a continuous surface with no voids or gaps. subdivided lines.
continuous fabric. nodes at endpoints or junctions.

Contains point Contains one point Must not have dangles Must not self overlap
Lines must not overlap
Polygon

Polygon

Each polygon of the Each polygon must The end of a line must
first feature class or Polygon errors are n contain exactly one Polygon errors are touch any part of one themselves within a
subtype must contain created from the point. Each point must created from the other line or any part feature class or subtype.
n n

Line

Line
within its boundaries polygons that do not n n fall within a polygon. polygons that do of itself within a Lines can touch,
contain at least one Point errors are intersect, and overlap 285

at least one point not contain exactly feature class or 25

of the second feature point. A point on n n n one point. Point subtype.
created at the end lines in another feature
of a line that does Line errors are
class or subtype. the boundary of a n n errors exist where class or subtype.
polygon is not n not touch at least created where
n n points are not within
one other line 40 lines overlap
contained in that a single polygon.
polygon. n or itself. themselves. 25

Use this rule to make sure that all polygons have at least one School district boundaries must Use this rule to make sure that there is a one-to-one Parcels must contain Use this rule when you want lines in a feature class or A street network has line segments that Use this rule with lines whose segments should never occupy For transportation analysis, street and
contain at least one school. exactly one address point. connect. If segments end for dead-end roads or highway segments of the same feature
point within their boundaries. Overlapping polygons can share a correspondence between features of a polygon feature subtype to connect to one another. cul-de-sacs, you could choose to set as the same space as another segment on the same line. should not overlap themselves.
point in that overlapping area. class and a point feature class. exceptions during an edit session.

Must be covered by feature class of Boundary must be covered by Must not overlap Must not self intersect
The polygons in Polygon boundaries Lines must not overlap Lines must not cross
Polygon

Polygon

the first feature class Polygon errors are in one feature class or any part of another or overlap themselves
or subtype must be created from the subtype must be Line errors are line within a feature within a feature class

Line

Line
covered by the uncovered areas of covered by the lines created where class or subtype. Lines or subtype. Lines can Line errors are
polygons of the the polygons in of another feature polygon can touch, touch themselves and created where lines
second feature the first feature class or subtype. boundaries are intersect, and touch, intersect, and overlap themselves,
overlap themselves. Line errors are
class or subtype. class or subtype. not covered by a overlap other lines. and point errors are
created where
line of another created where lines
lines overlap.
feature class or cross themselves.
subtype.
States are covered by Major road lines form part of Use this rule with lines that should never occupy the same Lot lines cannot overlap Use this rule when you only want lines to touch at their ends Contour lines cannot intersect
Use this rule when each polygon in one feature class or subtype should counties.
Use this rule when polygon boundaries should be coincident outlines for census blocks. one another. themselves.
be covered by all the polygons of another feature class or subtype. with another line feature class or subtype. space with other lines. without intersecting or overlapping themselves.

Must not overlap with Must be covered by Must not intersect Must be single part
Polygons in one Lines must not cross
Polygon

Polygon

Polygons of the first Lines within a feature

feature class or feature class or subtype Polygon errors are or overlap any part
of another line within class or subtype
subtype must not must be covered by a created from must only have

Line

Line
overlap polygons Polygon errors are single polygon polygons from the the same feature 9 10 9
created where class or subtype. one part. 9
of the second from another first feature class or Line errors are Multipart line 25
feature class polygons from feature class or subtype that are not created where lines errors are created
or subtype. the two feature subtype. covered by a single overlap, and point 8 where lines have
classes or polygon from the errors are created 8 more than one
subtypes 40
second feature class or where lines cross. part.
overlap. subtype.
Use this rule when polygons from one feature class or subtype Lakes and land parcels Use this rule when you want one set of polygons to be Counties must be covered Use this rule with lines whose segments should never cross or Lot lines cannot intersect or overlap, A highway system is made up of individual
from two different feature by states. but the endpoint of one feature can
Use this rule when you want lines to be composed features where any one feature is not
should not overlap polygons of another feature class or subtype. covered by some part of another single polygon occupy the same space with other lines.
classes must not overlap. touch the interior of another feature. of a single series of connected segments. made up of more than one part.
in another feature class or subtype.

Area boundary must be covered by boundary of Must cover each other Must not intersect with Must be covered by feature class of
The boundaries of Lines in one
Polygon

All polygons in the

Polygon

Lines in one feature

polygons in one first feature class and all class or subtype must feature class or Line errors are
feature class or Line errors are polygons in the second Polygon errors are not cross or overlap subtype must be created on the
Line

Line
subtype must be created where polygon feature class must created where any any part of a line in covered by lines in lines in the first
covered by the boundaries in the first cover each other. part of a polygon another feature class Line errors are 285
another feature feature class that
boundaries of feature class or subtype - FC1 Must be covered by is not covered by or subtype. created where lines class or subtype. are not covered by
polygons in another are not covered by the feature class of FC2. one or more overlap, and point lines in the second
feature class or boundaries of polygons - FC2 Must be covered by polygons in the errors are created feature class.
subtype. in another feature class feature class of FC1. other feature class where lines cross.
25
or subtype. or subtype.
Use this rule when the boundaries of polygons in one feature Subdivision boundaries are Use this rule with lines whose segments should never cross Local roads cannot intersect or Use this rule when you have multiple groups of lines describing Lines that make up bus routes
Use this rule when you want the polygons from two feature classes or Vegetation and soils must
class or subtype should align with the boundaries of polygons coincident with parcel boundaries,
cover each other. or occupy the same space with lines in another feature overlap major highways and
the same geography. must be on top of lines in a road
but do not cover all parcels. subtypes to cover the same area. must connect only at ramps. network.
in another feature class or subtype. class or subtype.

Must be coincident with R Must be disjoint Must not intersect or touch interior Must be covered by boundary of
"d

R
"d

R Lines can only Lines in one

"d

Points in one Points cannot

touch at their ends feature class or
"d

feature class or Point errors are overlap within Line errors are
"d
Point

Point

and must not overlap

Ñ

subtype must be the same feature subtype must be

created where points created where
Line

Line
"d

coincident with R
class or subtype. each other within a covered by the
"d

from the first feature feature class or lines overlap, and

R boundaries of Line errors are
"d

points in another class or subtype are point errors are

R subtype. polygons in another created on lines
"d

feature class or R covered by

not created where
Ñ
"d

subtype. R feature class or that are not

"d

points from the R Point errors are lines cross

"d

subtype. covered by the

second feature class created where points or touch.
boundaries of
"

Ñ
d

or subtype. overlap themselves.

"
d

polygons.
"d

R
"d

R
"d

Use this rule when points from one feature class or subtype should Meters must be coincident Use this rule when points within one feature class or subtype Fittings in a water distribution Use this rule when you only want lines to touch at their ends Lot lines cannot intersect or overlap Use this rule when you want to model lines that are Polylines used for displaying block
with service points in an network should not overlap. and must connect to one another only and lot boundaries must be covered
be aligned with points from another feature class or subtype. should never occupy the same space. and not intersect or overlap. at the endpoint of each line feature.
coincident with the boundaries of polygons.
electric utility network. by parcel boundaries.

Must be covered by endpoint of Point must be covered by line Must not intersect or touch interior with Must be inside
Points in one Points in one Lines in one feature Lines in one
feature class or feature class or class or subtype can feature class or
Line errors are
Point
Point

subtype must be subtype must be only touch at their subtype must be

created where
Line

Line

covered by the covered by lines in ends and must not contained by

ends of lines in another feature class lines overlap, and
overlap lines in polygons of
another feature Point errors are or subtype. point errors are
another feature another feature
class or subtype. created on the Point errors are created where Line errors are
class or subtype. class or subtype.
points that are not created on the lines cross created where
covered by the points that are not or touch. lines are not
ends of lines. covered by lines. within polygons.

Use this rule when you want to model points that are Street intersections must be Use this rule when you want to model points that are Monitoring stations must fall Use this rule when you only want lines to touch at their Lot lines cannot intersect or overlap block Use this rule when you want lines to be contained within the Streams are within watersheds.
covered by the endpoints of street along streams. ends and not intersect or overlap with lines in another lines and must connect to one another
coincident with the ends of lines. coincident with lines. boundaries of polygons.
centerlines. only at the endpoint of each line feature.
feature class or subtype.

Must be properly inside polygons Must be covered by boundary of Must not overlap with Endpoint must be covered by
Points in one Lines in one The ends of lines
Points in one feature class or feature class or Line errors are in one feature class
Point

Point

feature class or subtype must touch subtype must not created where lines or subtype must be
Line

Line

subtype must be boundaries of overlap any part of from two feature covered by points
inside polygons of polygons from another line in classes or subtypes in another feature
another feature Point errors are Point errors are
another feature Point errors are another feature overlap. class or subtype.
class or subtype. created where points created at the
class or subtype. created where the class or subtype. 80
do not touch the 20
ends of lines that
points are outside or
boundaries of are not covered
touch the boundary
polygons. by a point.
of the polygons.
Use this rule when you want points to align with the Utility service points might Use this rule for lines that should never occupy the same Highways can cross and come close Use this rule when you want to model the ends of lines in one Endpoints of secondary electric
Use this rule when you want points to be completely within State capitals must be required to be on the to rivers, but road segments cannot lines must be capped by either a
be inside each state. boundaries of polygons. space with lines in another feature class or subtype. feature class or subtype that are coincident with point
the boundaries of polygons. boundary of a parcel. overlap river segments. transformer or meter.
features in another feature class.

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