What happens if you run the Extend Line tool without specifying an Extend Length?

If you run the Extend Line tool without specifying an Extend Length, the tool will extend the segments of the line until they intersect with the first feature it encounters. This behavior is particularly useful when working with line geometries in GIS, as it allows for the automatic adjustment of line segments to connect with existing features, facilitating more accurate and comprehensive mapping.

Extending to the first intersecting feature ensures that the process prioritizes connectivity and maintains relational integrity within the spatial data. This mode of operation is default behavior intended to simplify the user’s task when modeling or editing line features, as it eliminates the need to determine a specific extension length.

Other options, while plausible in different contexts, do not accurately capture the functionality of the tool. For instance, not specifying a length does not lead to the scenario where no features are extended, nor does it require the digitization of additional lengths on the map. Snapping tolerance variables might influence which features are affected under certain conditions, but the primary result of an unspecified extension length is still the first intersecting feature's connection.