What is the data access module

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 classes

Class	Description
ContingentFieldValue	The ContingentFieldValue object contains properties that describe the properties of the field used for a contingent value.
ContingentValue	The ContingentValue object contains properties that describe a contingent value.
DatabaseSequence	The DatabaseSequence object contains properties that describe a database sequence.
Domain	The Domain object contains properties that describe an attribute domain.
Editor	The Editor class allows the 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.

Data Access functions

Function	Description
Describe	The Describe function returns a dictionary with multiple properties, such as data type, fields, indexes, and many others. The dictionary's keys are dynamic, meaning that depending on what data type is described, different properties will be available for use.
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.
ListContingentValues	Lists the contingent values on a table. Search conditions can be specified for the field group name and subtype to limit the list that is returned.
ListDatabaseSequences	Lists the database sequences in a database.
ListDomains	Lists the attribute domains belonging to a geodatabase.
ListFieldConflictFilters	Lists the fields in a versioned feature class or table that have field conflict filters applied.
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 directory/database structure by walking the tree top-down or bottom-up. Each directory/workspace yields a tuple of three: directory path, directory names, and file names.