Enforcing
data integrity with attribute domains
Maintaining
accurate data is a concern of all GIS users. As features in the real world
change, their attributes must be updated. Of course, data entry errors are
always possible, but the geodatabase provides a way
to minimize the potential for errors—attribute domains.
Attribute
domains define what values are allowed in a field in a feature class table or nonspatial table. In other words, attribute domains specify
valid values for an attribute.
When
attributes are being edited, attribute domains help prevent data errors in one
of two ways: you can either create a list of valid attribute values from which
users must choose, or you can give users the ability to check that all features
are valid after editing.