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Vector vs Raster: What’s the Difference

Between GIS Spatial Data Types?
By: GISGeography Last Updated: September 8, 2023

Spatial data
observations focus on
locations.
Every house, every tree,
and every city has its
own unique latitude and
longitude coordinates.
The two primary types of spatial data are vector and raster data in a GIS. But
what is the difference between raster and vector data?
When should we use raster and when should we use vector features? Find out
more about the spatial data models commonly used.

Vectors are points, lines, and polygons

Vector data is not made up of a grid of pixels. Instead, vector graphics are
comprised of vertices and paths.
The three basic symbol types for vector data are points, lines, and polygons
(areas).
Because cartographers use these symbols to represent real-world features in
maps, they often have to decide based on the level of detail on the map.

Points are XY coordinates

Vector points are simply XY coordinates.
Generally, they are latitude and longitude with a
spatial reference frame.
When features are too small to be represented
as polygons, points are used.
For example, you can’t see city boundary lines on a global scale. In this case,
maps often use points to display cities.

Lines connect vertices

Vector lines connect each vertex with paths. Basically, you’re connecting the
dots in a set order and it becomes a vector line with each dot representing a
vertex.
Lines usually represent features that are linear
in nature. For example, maps show rivers, roads,
and pipelines as vector lines. Often, busier
highways have thicker lines than abandoned
roads.
On the other hand, networks are line data sets
but they are often considered to be different. This is because linear networks
are topologically connected elements. They consist of junctions and turns
with connectivity.
If you were to find an optimal route using a traffic line network, it would follow
set rules. For example, it can restrict turns and movement on one-way streets.

Polygons connect vertices and close the path

When you join a set of vertices in a particular
order and close it, this is now a vector polygon
feature. When you create a polygon, the first
and last coordinate pairs are the same.
Cartographers use polygons to show
boundaries and they all have an area. For
example, a building footprint has square footage and agricultural fields have
acreage.

Raster Types: Discrete vs Continuous

Raster data is made up of pixels (also referred to as grid cells). They are
usually regularly spaced and square but they don’t have to be. Rasters often
look pixelated because each pixel has its own value or class.
For example:
Each pixel value in a satellite image has a red, green, and blue value.
Alternatively, each value in an elevation map represents a specific height. It
could represent anything from rainfall to land cover.
Raster models are useful for storing data that varies continuously. For
example, elevation surfaces, temperature, and lead contamination.
Raster data models consist of 2 categories – discrete and continuous.

Discrete Rasters have distinct values

Discrete rasters have distinct themes or categories. For example, one grid cell
represents a land cover class or a soil type.
In a discrete raster land
cover/use map, you can
distinguish each thematic class.
Each class can be discretely
defined where it begins and
ends.
In other words, each land cover cell is definable and it fills the entire area of
the cell.
Discrete data usually consists of integers to represent classes. For example,
the value 1 might represent urban areas, the value 2 represents forest, and so
on.

Continuous Rasters have a gradual change

Continuous rasters (non-discrete) are grid cells with gradually changing data
such as elevation, temperature, or an aerial photograph.
A continuous raster
surface can be derived
from a fixed registration
point. For example,
digital elevation models
use sea level as a
registration point.
Each cell represents a value above or below sea level. As another example,
aspect cell values have fixed directions such as north, east, south, or west.
Phenomena can gradually vary along a continuous raster from a specific
source. A raster depicting an oil spill can show how the fluid moves from high
concentration to low concentration. At the source of the oil spill, concentration
is higher and diffuses outwards with diminishing values as a function of
distance.

Vector data advantages and disadvantages

What are the advantages of using vector data?
Because vector data have vertices and paths, this means that the graphical
output is generally more aesthetically pleasing. Furthermore, it gives higher
geographic accuracy because data isn’t dependent on grid size.
Topology rules can help data integrity with vector data models. Not only that,
network analysis and proximity operations use vector data structures.

What are the disadvantages of using vector data?

Continuous data is poorly stored and displayed as vectors. If you want to
display continuous data as a vector, it would require substantial generalization.
Although topology is useful for vector data, it is often processing intensive.
Any feature edits require updates on topology. With a lot of features, vector
manipulation algorithms are complex.
Did you know?
The spaghetti data model was one of the first
conceptual models to add structure to features
in a GIS.
It was a simple GIS model where lines may cross
without intersecting or topology without
attributes.

What are the advantages of raster data?

A raster grid format is a data model for satellite data and other remote
sensing data. For raster positions, it’s simple to understand cell size.
Map algebra with raster data is usually quick and easy to perform. Overall,
quantitative analysis is intuitive with discrete or continuous rasters.
What are the disadvantages of raster data?
Because cell size contributes to graphic quality, it can have a pixelated look
and feel. To illustrate, linear features and paths are difficult to display.
You cannot create network datasets or perform topology rules on rasters.
Also, you don’t have the flexibility with raster data attribute tables.
Raster datasets can become potentially very large because they record values
for each cell in an image. As resolution increases, the size of the cell
decreases. But this comes at a cost for speed of processing and data storage.

Vector vs Raster: Spatial Data Types

It’s not always straightforward which spatial data type you should use for your
maps.
In the end, it really comes down to how the cartographer conceptualizes the
feature on their map.
Do you want to work with pixels or coordinates? Raster data works with
pixels. Vector data consists of coordinates.
What is your map scale? Vectors can scale objects up to the size of a
billboard. But you don’t get that type of flexibility with raster data
Do you have restrictions on file size? Raster file size can result in much
larger (in comparison with vector data sets with the same phenomenon
and area).
There are some of the features you have to think about during the data design
and conceptualization phase.
Spatial data structures
Spatial data types provide the information that a computer requires to
reconstruct the spatial data in digital form.
In the raster world, we have grid cells representing real-world features. In the
vector world, we have points, lines, and polygons that consist of vertices and
paths.
Vector and raster data both have their advantages and disadvantages.
But don’t sweat it:
Because you can convert vector to raster. And vice versa.
Do you have anything to add? Let me know with a comment below.

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27 Comments
Mohd Moniruzzaman says:
May 10, 2022 at 11:10 pm

Nice to read this article hope to get more regarding GIS.

Brian Kiernan says:
March 20, 2022 at 9:16 am

While I appreciate the information, its presentation is uneven and inconsistent.

For example, the discussion (or lack thereof) regarding the pluses and minuses
of each format. You, you touch on each, but I find the explanation lacking. That
said, I found the piece useful.

David Uduak John says:

November 12, 2021 at 12:09 am

This is so helpful, thank you

Kasahun Gebremariam says:

September 21, 2021 at 3:39 am

I m Msc GIS student I want the GIS material soft copy please help me.

Amos says:
September 16, 2021 at 1:47 am

Thank you so much for the info

Mubita Njekwa says:

September 6, 2021 at 3:23 pm

This is part of my study in public health, would love to learn more.

Abraham Defar says:
September 6, 2021 at 2:14 am

Vector data expresses by point, line and area/polygon and has discrete values
for features.
Whereas raster data is expressed by grid cell or pixel cell.

Olajide says:
June 7, 2021 at 8:14 pm

I love this. Great boxing match!

Anu Sweety says:

August 27, 2020 at 12:31 am

Also you have to written the applications in agriculture also. Please that it is
helps many students.

GISGeography says:
November 12, 2019 at 8:06 pm

Have you tried the USGS topographic maps?

https://gisgeography.com/download-usgs-topo-maps-free/

Warren James DiLandro says:

November 12, 2019 at 1:05 pm
Looking for Topo maps for CAP cadet training for ground team search and
rescue in the North Carolina Area. I would like to have ability to download area
maps free of charge.
Can you advise us if this option is available?
Joboy says:
August 6, 2019 at 3:11 am

Kudos to this site, I guess everything here is well explained thus concise,
thanks to the team GISGeography!

stephen akuneto says:

July 7, 2018 at 5:15 am

please what is the relationship between Geospatial features and digital data
input in terms of representation and dissemination of Geoinformation

René says:
December 10, 2017 at 7:28 am

Thank you for the shared information; by the way, provide me with the spatial
data collection techniques.

GISGeography says:
October 27, 2017 at 4:36 am

Most open source GIS software allows you to create rasters like in this list –
https://gisgeography.com/free-gis-software/
You’ll have to be more specific what you want to do for me to recommend any
particular software package
Vasu says:
October 27, 2017 at 1:37 am

What are some sources/tools to create custom rasters? Please mention open
source only.

suhrudh says:
October 24, 2017 at 9:40 am

Whether google maps are raster or vector????

Dale says:
October 14, 2017 at 1:17 am

This was exactly what I needed. Thank you for your time and expertise. This
was explained very well.

Lucky says:
March 22, 2017 at 11:14 pm

Thank you very much for the valuable knowledge you shared.

Amri Sabrine says:

December 4, 2016 at 11:46 am
How are spatial data designed and stored? Can we use UML and then store
data in relational databases?
GISGeography says:
August 27, 2016 at 4:36 am

I agree with the binary raster

Matt says:
August 26, 2016 at 10:16 am

I have binary data that is either going to be represented by a 1 (0-15% slope)

or 0 (>15% slope) slope. If publishing on a webmap, I am under the impression
that raster would be a better format to use. Any thoughts?

Bryan says:
July 28, 2016 at 11:49 am

Thanks for the post. I found myself on this website because I am trying to
learn the advantages of both raster and vector. So even though I am not going
to be building a map, this was really useful info to help me understand some of
the uses and properties of both image types.
Thanks again.

Dominoque says:
March 17, 2016 at 2:42 am
How is a surface created that shows the distance from a particular point in all
directions in the vector and raster data models
Damien Henry says:
March 3, 2016 at 7:58 pm

Thank you

GISGeography says:
March 3, 2016 at 5:46 pm

Generally vectors can be more complex, and don’t have the chessboard
appearance like rasters… So I’d lean towards vector to represent reality better

Damien Henry says:

March 3, 2016 at 12:07 am

Which represents the real world most accurately

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