What can be used to ensure a feature class maintains integrity when updating data in ArcMap?

Validating the geometry of features is crucial for ensuring a feature class maintains integrity when updating data in ArcMap. Geometry validation checks for errors such as overlapping polygons, self-intersecting lines, or incorrect coordinate placements that may occur during data creation or updates. By ensuring that the geometrical data adheres to the expected standards, users can prevent data integrity issues that could lead to inaccurate analyses or map displays.

The other options—while they are important practices—do not directly address the specific integrity of the geometric aspects of the data. Default values can simplify data entry but might not protect against fundamental errors in geometry. Properly maintaining domain ranges ensures that only valid values are entered into specific fields; however, this pertains more to attribute integrity rather than the geometrical integrity of the features themselves. Regularly compressing the geodatabase can improve performance and reduce storage usage, but it does not inherently guarantee that the geometrical features are valid or accurate before, during, or after updates.