A to Z GIS | Explore this related guide, featuring updated terms and graphics and developed in coordination with Esri’s GIS Dictionary team.
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[data architecture, geography]
A fundamental data structure consisting of a matrix of equally sized cells, or pixels, arranged in rows and columns, and composed of single or multiple bands. Each cell represents a location on the earth's surface and contains a numeric value that represents a particular attribute or phenomenon, such as temperature at a particular height or depth, elevation, or image brightness value. Groups of cells that share the same cell value represent the same geographic feature.
