To analyze spatial relationships between different datasets, which tool is most commonly used?

The Intersect tool is widely recognized for analyzing spatial relationships between different datasets because it allows users to identify areas where two or more geometries overlap. When using this tool, only the features that are common to all input layers are retained in the output. This is particularly useful for tasks such as identifying shared zones in environmental studies, land use, and urban planning, as it helps in focusing on the specific areas that fulfill all criteria being analyzed.

The other tools listed serve different functions. The Buffer tool creates a zone around a feature at a specified distance, which is beneficial for proximity analyses but does not explicitly analyze the relationships between datasets. The Clip tool is designed to cut out the portion of one dataset based on the boundary of another, and while it can be helpful in some analyses, it does not inherently analyze relationships like Intersect does. Finally, the Merge tool combines multiple datasets into a single one without necessarily evaluating how they relate spatially. Thus, while all options have their applications, Intersect is the primary tool for analyzing spatial relationships directly.