Which statement correctly describes the difference between vector and raster GIS data?

Which statement correctly describes the difference between vector and raster GIS data?

• A. Vector stores grid cells for continuous surfaces.
• B. Raster stores discrete features such as points, lines, polygons.
• C. Vector records discrete features (points, lines, polygons).
• D. Raster represents discrete features and vector represents continuous surfaces.

Answer: (C)

Vector data captures discrete features as precise geometry—points mark exact locations, lines show linear features, and polygons enclose areas. Each feature is a distinct entity, often with attributes, which makes vector ideal for representing well-defined objects and their relationships. Raster data, on the other hand, uses a grid of cells, with each cell holding a value that represents the property of the area it covers. This grid approach is great for modeling continuous phenomena like elevation, temperature, or land cover where values change gradually across space, but it smooths boundaries and depends on the cell size as a resolution limit. The statement that vector records discrete features (points, lines, polygons) best captures this distinction, while the others mix up the roles of vector and raster.

Vector data captures discrete features as precise geometry—points mark exact locations, lines show linear features, and polygons enclose areas. Each feature is a distinct entity, often with attributes, which makes vector ideal for representing well-defined objects and their relationships. Raster data, on the other hand, uses a grid of cells, with each cell holding a value that represents the property of the area it covers. This grid approach is great for modeling continuous phenomena like elevation, temperature, or land cover where values change gradually across space, but it smooths boundaries and depends on the cell size as a resolution limit. The statement that vector records discrete features (points, lines, polygons) best captures this distinction, while the others mix up the roles of vector and raster.