The Identify tool allows you to click a feature and see a list of its attributes. A layer must be Active, in order to be identified.
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Tools and Functions

Identify Tool

The introduction to GIS Concepts section discussed layers and how features have attributes in a GIS.

SCREEN CAPTURE: Parcels layer activeSuppose you are interested in a property parcel at a particular location into which you have zoomed. First, you ensure that the layer with parcel attributes is set as the active layer in the layer list (see the Layers Tab explanation for more information about how to activate layers). In this case, the 'Parcels' layer is made active.

The Identify tool allows you to get attribute information about a feature by clicking on it. After setting the target layer to 'active' in the layer list, select the Identify tool on the toolbar and click on the feature whose attributes you want to examine.

The attributes for that feature are displayed in a new window. If the window does not appear, make sure that the feature you are clicking on is part of the layer that is active.