In ArcGIS, what feature is used to define the color, symbol, and other visual elements of a layer?

In ArcGIS, a Layer File is a crucial component that encapsulates the visual representation of a specific layer, including properties such as color, symbolization, and other display settings. When a layer is saved as a Layer File, all the unique styling and visibility settings applied to that layer are preserved. This means that whenever the Layer File is opened, the layer will display with the same visual characteristics as when it was saved.

Layer Files serve to efficiently manage how data is presented without altering the original dataset. They allow users to streamline their work by applying consistent symbology across various maps or projects. Moreover, Layer Files can be shared and reused, promoting collaborative practices among GIS professionals.

In contrast, while a Style Sheet could be relevant to defining styles in some contexts, it is not the primary feature within ArcGIS for defining layer-specific visual elements. The Data Frame is more about the spatial organization and collection of layers in a map, and a Symbol Set simply refers to a collection of symbols that can be applied, but it does not encapsulate the broader range of visual properties associated with an individual layer.