What is the data access module? (arcpy.da)

The data access module, arcpy.da, is a Python module for working with data. It allows control of the edit session, edit operation, improved cursor support (including faster performance), functions for converting tables and feature classes to and from NumPy arrays, and support for versioning, replicas, domains, and subtypes workflows.

Data Access functions

Class

Description

ExtendTable

Joins the contents of a NumPy structured array to a table based on a common attribute field. The input table is updated to contain the fields from the join table.

FeatureClassToNumPyArray

Converts a feature class to NumPy structured array.

ListDomains

Lists the attribute domains belonging to a geodatabase.

ListReplicas

Lists the replicas in the workspace.

ListSubtypes

Returns a dictionary of the subtypes for a table or feature class.

ListVersions

Lists the versions in the workspace.

NumPyArrayToFeatureClass

Converts a NumPy structured array to a point feature class.

NumPyArrayToTable

Converts a NumPy structured array to a table.

TableToNumPyArray

Converts a table to NumPy structured array.

Walk

Generate data names in a catalog tree by walking the tree top-down or bottom-up. Each directory/workspace in the tree yields a tuple of three: dirpath, dirnames, and filenames.

Data Access classes

Class

Description

Domain

The Domain object contains properties that describe an attribute domain.

Editor

The Editor class allows use of edit sessions and operations to manage database transactions.

InsertCursor

InsertCursor establishes a write cursor on a feature class or table. InsertCursor can be used to add new rows.

Replica

The Replica object contains properties that describe a replica.

SearchCursor

SearchCursor establishes read-only access to the records returned from a feature class or table.

UpdateCursor

UpdateCursor establishes read-write access to records returned from a feature class or table.

Version

The Version object contains properties that describe a version.

NoteNote:

The Walk function was made available at ArcGIS 10.1 Service Pack 1.

4/16/2013