ArcGIS Server Banner

Benefits of relationship classes (ArcInfo and ArcEditor only)

Benefits of relationship classes (ArcInfo and ArcEditor only)

Release 9.3 E-mail This TopicPrintable VersionGive Us feedback
Geodatabase relationship classes are similar to relationships you can set up with a database management system. Relationship classes manage the associations between objects in one class (feature class or table) and objects in another. Objects at either end of the relationship can be features with geometry or records in a table.

Relationship classes manage the associations between objects in one feature class or table and objects in another

Relationship classes support all cardinalities—one-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many—and may have attributes about the relationship itself.

Relationship classes also provide many advanced capabilities not found in ArcMap joins and relates.

See Also

  • About joining and relating tables
  • Deciding between relationship classes, joins, and relates
  • Relationships and ArcGIS