arc

1. An ordered string of vertices (x,y coordinate pairs) that begin at one location and end at another. Connecting the arc's vertices creates a line. The vertices at each endpoint of an arc are called nodes.
2. A coverage feature class used to represent linear features and polygon boundaries. One line feature can contain many arcs. Arcs are topologically linked to nodes (arc-node topology) and to polygons (polygon-arc topology). The descriptive attributes of arcs are stored in the arc attribute table (AAT). See also node.

A string of x,y coordinate pairs (vertices) that begin at one location and end at another. Connecting the arc's vertices creates a line.

(1) Advanced Research Center, US Army, Huntsville, AL. (2) Atlantic Research Corporation.