An overview of the Topology toolset

The Topology toolset contains a set of tools that can be used to create and manage a geodatabase topology.

Topology is a collection of rules that, coupled with a set of editing tools and techniques, enables the geodatabase to more accurately model geometric relationships. ArcGIS implements topology through a set of rules that define how features may share a geographic space and a set of editing tools that work with features that share geometry in an integrated fashion. A topology is stored in a geodatabase as one or more relationships that define how the features in one or more feature classes share geometry. The features participating in a topology are still simple feature classes—rather than modifying the definition of the feature class, a topology serves as a description of how the features can be spatially related.

Tool	Description
Add Feature Class To Topology	Adds a feature class to a topology.
Add Rule To Topology	Adds a new rule to a topology.
Create Topology	Creates a topology. The topology will not contain any feature classes or rules.
Export Topology Errors	Exports the errors from a geodatabase topology to the target geodatabase. All information associated with the errors and exceptions, such as the features referenced by the error or exception, are exported. Once they are exported, the feature classes can be accessed using any license level of ArcGIS. The feature classes can be used with the Select by Location dialog box or the Select Layer By Location tool and can be shared with other users who do not have access to the topology itself.
Remove Feature Class From Topology	Removes a feature class from a topology.
Remove Rule From Topology	Removes a rule from a topology.
Set Cluster Tolerance	Sets the cluster tolerance of a topology.
Validate Topology	Validates a geodatabase topology.

Topology tools