Types of geometry analysis

You can perform many different types of geometry analyses with the ArcGIS APIs.

The operations are categorized into the following:

1. Spatial relationship
2. Geometric calculation
3. Length and area
4. Projection

Click on the tables below to learn how to execute each operation with ArcGIS APIs.

Spatial relationship

Spatial relationship operations determine the topological association between two geometries and return true or false.

Operation	Description	Relation (yellow = true)
Contains	Returns true if one geometry contains another geometry.	The left geometry contains the top geometry.
Disjoint	Returns true if one geometry does not intersect another geometry.	The left geometry is disjoint from the top geometry.
Intersects	Returns true if one geometry intersects another geometry.	The left geometry intersects the top geometry.
Overlaps	Returns true if one geometry overlaps another geometry. NOTE: Only valid for geometries of the same type or dimension.	The left geometry overlaps the top geometry.
Touches	Returns true if one geometry touches another geometry.	The left geometry touches the top geometry.
Within	Returns true if one geometry is fully within another geometry.	The left geometry is within the top geometry.
Relate	Returns true if input geometries satisfy the specified DE-9IM spatial relation. You can provide any combination of the supported DE-9IM operations.

Geometric calculation

Geometric calculation operations evaluate one or more geometries and return a new geometry.

Operation	Description	Example
Boundary	Returns a polyline or polygon for the area of a geometry.
Buffer	Returns a polygon that surrounds a geometry at a specified distance.
Clip	Returns a geometry where a target geometry and envelope intersect.
Convex Hull	Returns a polygon with the shortest perimeter that encloses one or more geometries.
Cut	Returns geometries where an input polyline crosses an existing geometry.
Densify	Returns a geometry that has intermediate points at a specified distance between existing vertices.
Difference	Returns one or more geometries that are the result of the set theoretic difference between one geometry and another geometry.
Extent	Returns a rectangle geometry that encompasses the coordinates of an input geometry.
Generalize	Returns a geometry where the vertices that contribute least to the shape of the input polygon or polyline are removed, while retaining the characteristics of the shape. The number of vertices removed depends on a given spatial deviation distance
Intersect	Returns a geometry based on set theoretic intersection of the input geometries.
Nearest Coordinate	Returns the coordinate of a geometry that is closest to a specified point.
Nearest Vertex	Returns the vertex of a geometry that is closest to a specified point.
Offset	Returns a geometry that is a constant distance from an input polyline or polygon.
Reshape	Returns a geometry that takes the shape of the reshaper input where the reshaper geometry intersects the input geometry.
Simplify	Returns a geometry that is topologically correct.
Trim	Returns a geometry that intersects the input geometry and trim polyline.
Union	Returns a geometry based on the set theoretic union of the input geometries.

Length and area

Length and area measures calculate the length, distance, and area of one or more geometries.

Projection

A project operation projects one or more input geometries from one spatial reference to another.