A file geodatabase is a collection of files in a folder on disk that can store, query, and manage both spatial and nonspatial data.
You create a file geodatabase in ArcGIS.
File geodatabases are made up of seven system tables plus user data. User data can be stored in the following types of datasets:
- Feature class
- Feature dataset
- Mosaic dataset
- Raster catalog
- Raster dataset
- Schematic dataset
- Table (nonspatial)
- Toolboxes
Feature datasets can contain feature classes as well as the following types of datasets:
- Attachments
- Feature-linked annotation
- Geometric networks
- Network datasets
- Parcel fabrics
- Relationship classes
- Terrains
- Topologies
The default maximum size of datasets in file geodatabases is 1 TB. The maximum size can be increased to 256 TB for large datasets (usually raster). This is controlled by a configuration keyword. See Configuration keywords for file geodatabases for more information.
File geodatabases can also contain subtypes and domains and participate in checkout/check-in replication and one-way replicas.
A file geodatabase can be accessed simultaneously by several users. If the users are editing, they must edit different datasets.