What type of features does Intersect return from the input feature classes?

The Intersect tool in GIS is designed to identify and return only the features that are common between the input feature classes, specifically those that overlap spatially. This means that if two datasets are analyzed with the Intersect tool, the output will include only the areas or features where both datasets share space.

This functionality is crucial in various applications, such as identifying zoning areas within a certain region, determining overlapping ecosystems, or finding commonality between land use datasets. The result is a set of features that represent the intersection of the spatial attributes of the input layers.

In contrast, the other options suggest outcomes that do not accurately represent what the Intersect function does. For example, returning only unique features would imply that non-overlapping parts are included, which is not how Intersect operates. Similarly, claiming that all features from both classes would be returned misses the focus on spatial overlap, and distinguishing only distinct features does not align with the nature of how intersections are determined. Thus, the output of the Intersect function represents only the common features that overlap between the input layers.