What will most likely define the shape of a polygon in GIS?

The shape of a polygon in GIS is predominantly defined by its edges and nodes. In geometric terms, a polygon is a closed figure formed by connecting a series of line segments, known as edges, which meet at points called nodes or vertices. These edges form the outline of the polygon, while the nodes indicate the specific corners or turns.

In contrast, the other options do not serve as the primary defining characteristics of a polygon's shape. The centroid pertains to a specific point that represents the geometric center of the polygon, but it does not contribute to its overall outline or boundary structure. Surface area values, while quantifiable characteristics of a polygon, do not dictate its geometric shape. Lastly, raster data attributes relate to pixel-based data formats in GIS that represent continuous data rather than defining the geometric structures such as polygons. Thus, edges and nodes are the fundamental components that outline and give shape to polygons in GIS applications.