ListFeatureClasses (arcpy)

Summary

Lists the feature classes in the workspace, limited by name, feature type, and optional feature dataset.

Discussion

The workspace environment must be set first before using several of the List functions, including ListDatasets, ListFeatureClasses, ListFiles, ListRasters, ListTables, and ListWorkspaces.

Syntax

ListFeatureClasses ({wild_card}, {feature_type}, {feature_dataset})

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
wild_card	The wild card limits the results returned. If no wild card is specified, all values are returned.	String
feature_type	The feature type to limit the results returned by the wild card argument. Valid feature types are: Annotation —Only annotation feature classes are returned. Arc —Only arc (or line) feature classes are returned. Dimension —Only dimension feature classes are returned. Edge —Only edge feature classes are returned. Junction —Only junction feature classes are returned. Label — Only label feature classes are returned. Line —Only line (or arc) feature classes are returned. Multipatch —Only multipatch feature classes are returned. Node —Only node feature classes are returned. Point —Only point feature classes are returned. Polygon —Only polygon feature classes are returned. Polyline —Only line (or arc) feature classes are returned. Region —Only region feature classes are returned. Route —Only route feature classes are returned. Tic —Only tic feature classes are returned. All — All datasets in the workspace. This is the default value. (The default value is All)	String
feature_dataset	Limits the feature classes returned to the feature dataset, if specified. If blank, only stand-alone feature classes will be returned in the workspace.	String

Return Value

Data Type	Explanation
String	The list containing feature class names is returned from the function, limited by the optional wild card, feature type, and feature dataset arguments.

Code Sample

ListFeatureClasses example

Copy shapefiles to a geodatabase.

import os
import arcpy

# Set the workspace for the ListFeatureClass function
arcpy.env.workspace = "c:/base"

# Use the ListFeatureClasses function to return a list of
#  shapefiles.
featureclasses = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()

# Copy shapefiles to a file geodatabase
for fc in featureclasses:
    arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(
        fc, os.path.join("c:/base/output.gdb",
                         os.path.splitext(fc)[0]))