ARCHIVED: What types of geodatabases are supported by ArcGIS?

Several types of geodatabases have been designed to support different organizational workflows and data storage needs: personal geodatabases for Microsoft Access, file geodatabases, and multiuser geodatabases that use ArcSDE technology. Multiuser geodatabases are available at three levels: personal, workgroup, and enterprise.

Personal geodatabase for Microsoft Access

Only one person at a time can edit a personal geodatabase for Microsoft Access, but multiple people can simultaneously view the geodatabase. A personal geodatabase for Access has the .mdb file extension (a format used by Microsoft Access) and has a maximum size of 2 GB. Vector data are stored in the database while raster data are referenced. Personal geodatabases for Access are appropriate for smaller workgroups and for managing small to moderately-sized datasets.

File geodatabase

The file geodatabase is a new geodatabase type released with ArcGIS 9.2. A file geodatabase, which has the .gdb file extension, stores datasets in a folder of files on your computer. File geodatabases work across operating systems and can store individual datasets up to 1 TB in size. While only one person can edit an individual item in a file geodatabase at a time, multiple people can simultaneously view and query the data stored in a file geodatabase. File geodatabases are the recommended native data format for ArcGIS. For more, see ARCHIVED: What are the advantages of file geodatabases?

Multiuser geodatabase

Larger organizations where multiple users need to view and edit the GIS database at the same time typically use multiuser geodatabases. Multiuser geodatabases support versions and replication, and require ArcSDE technology and a database management system (DBMS) such as Informix, Microsoft SQL Server, or Oracle.

The table below compares a few characteristics of the different geodatabase types.