What type of operation considers the entire raster to produce a single value?

The operation that considers the entire raster to produce a single value is known as a global operation. This type of operation processes all of the data in the raster dataset to generate a singular result, often based on calculations or statistical analyses applied to the entire dataset. For example, calculating the mean, sum, or maximum value of the entire raster would fall under this category.

Global operations differ fundamentally from local operations, which focus on individual cells and their specific values, and from zonal operations, which analyze specific regions based on defined zones. Focal operations, on the other hand, specifically consider a neighborhood of cells surrounding a target cell to derive new values. In contrast, global operations yield a single output that summarizes or characterizes the whole dataset rather than focusing on localized information or distinct zones.