How to Clip a Vector in ArcMap?

To clip a vector layer in ArcMap, you'll use the Clip tool. Here's how:

1. Open ArcMap and load your data: Make sure the vector layer you want to clip (the input feature class) and the polygon layer you want to use as the "cookie cutter" (the clip feature class) are both loaded into your ArcMap project.

2. Access the Clip tool: You can find the Clip tool in two ways:

   • ArcToolbox: Go to ArcToolbox > Analysis Tools > Extract > Clip.
   • Search: Go to the Search window (usually on the right side of ArcMap), type "Clip," and select the Clip (Analysis Tools) tool.

3. Fill in the Clip tool parameters:

   • Input Features: Select the vector layer you want to clip. This is the layer that will be cut.
   • Clip Features: Select the polygon layer that will be used to clip the input features. This is the "cookie cutter" layer. Only the portion of the input features that falls within the clip features will be retained.
   • Output Feature Class: Specify the location and name for the new, clipped vector layer. Give it a descriptive name and choose a folder to save it in.

4. Optional settings:

   • XY Tolerance: This sets the minimum distance between coordinates during processing. You generally don't need to change this unless you have specific requirements for data precision.

5. Run the tool: Click "OK" to execute the Clip tool.

6. View the results: Once the tool finishes running, the new, clipped vector layer will automatically be added to your table of contents and displayed in the data view. You will see that only the portions of the original input layer that fell within the clip feature boundaries have been retained in the output layer.

In summary, clipping a vector in ArcMap involves using the Clip tool to extract features from an input layer that fall within the boundaries of a clip layer, creating a new feature class containing only the clipped geometry.