The ArcGIS Pro Python reference contains detailed information about every ArcPy module, function, and class provided with ArcGIS Pro; working with Python; and working with, and creating your own, geoprocessing tools in Python.
Note:
All geoprocessing tools can be accessed from Python using ArcPy. For a full reference, including Python samples, see ArcGIS Pro geoprocessing tool reference.
What's in the Python reference
The ArcGIS Pro Python reference is organized into Get started, Geoprocessing and Python, ArcPy functions and classes, and ArcPy modules sections. These sections are both browsable and searchable.
Get started
Python is a free, cross-platform, open source programming language. It's widely used and supported and is an integral part of ArcGIS.
This section covers several important topics for getting started with Python in ArcGIS Pro, including Python migration for ArcGIS Pro, Python in ArcGIS Pro, What is ArcPy?, ArcGIS API for Python, Package Manager, and Notebooks in ArcGIS Pro.
Note:
ArcPy and ArcGIS API for Python are complementary libraries; ArcPy allows you to use, automate, and extend desktop GIS, and ArcGIS API for Python supports the same for Web GIS.
An example is using ArcPy to manage local data, adding it as layers to a map, and using geoprocessing tools to create outputs and service definition files. ArcGIS API for Python can then be used to publish the definition files to the Web GIS, compose a web map, or share those layers with others.
Geoprocessing and Python
Python can be used to automate the execution of geoprocessing tools as well as provide the ability to create your own geoprocessing tools, either as a script tool or as a Python toolbox tool. Click to expand the Accessing geoprocessing tools node and find introductory topics for working with and understanding geoprocessing tools, such as Using tools in Python. Click the Creating geoprocessing tools node to find topics on creating your own tools, such as What is a script tool? and What is a Python toolbox?
ArcPy functions and classes
The ArcPy functions and ArcPy classes sections provide help topics for functions and classes. Functions and classes provide additional functionality to support Python-based workflows. For a list of functionality, see An overview of ArcPy functions and An overview of ArcPy classes. Additional functions and classes are found in several ArcPy modules.
ArcPy modules
In ArcPy, functionality is organized into modules:
- Charts module (arcpy.charts)
- Data Access module (arcpy.da)
- Geocoding module (arcpy.geocoding)
- Image Analysis module (arcpy.ia)
- Mapping module (arcpy.mp)
- Metadata module (arcpy.metadata)
- Network Analyst modules (arcpy.nax and arcpy.na)
- Sharing module (arcpy.sharing)
- Spatial Analyst module (arcpy.sa)
- Workflow Manager (Classic) module (arcpy.wmx)
Expand a specific module to find the following:
- An overview that describes the module and summaries of its contents
- Nodes for classes; functions; and where applicable, operators