What would be a common use of attribute data within a GIS?

Attribute data within a Geographic Information System (GIS) serves to describe and provide additional information about geographical features on a map. This type of data typically includes qualitative information such as names, categories, types, and other descriptive characteristics that help users understand the context and significance of the spatial features represented.

For example, in a GIS layer depicting cities, the attribute data would include names of the cities, their population sizes, economic indicators, and any other relevant characteristics. This information is vital for analysis, decision-making, and visualizing data relationships beyond just the geographical locations.

Displaying only the visual aspects of a map does not utilize attribute data, as it focuses on the graphical depiction rather than providing enriched contextual understanding. Similarly, finding geographical features' coordinates pertains more to the spatial data aspect of GIS rather than the attribute data. Creating animations of geographic changes may involve both spatial and temporal data but relies less on attribute data alone for its functionality. Therefore, the choice highlighting the descriptive capabilities of attribute data aligns perfectly with its core purpose in GIS.