What is the resolution of a raster determined by?

The resolution of a raster refers to the level of detail and clarity in the data representation and is primarily determined by the size of the grid cells, or pixels, that make up the raster. Smaller grid cells lead to higher resolution because they can capture finer details of the mapped area, allowing for more accurate representation of features within the raster layer. In contrast, larger grid cells can lead to a loss of detail and clarity, resulting in a coarser resolution.

While the total number of pixels may influence the overall dimensions of the raster image, it does not directly dictate the level of detail represented. Color depth can affect the range and quality of colors used in the raster but does not influence spatial resolution. The file format can impact compression and storage but does not define how detailed the raster's data representation is in terms of spatial resolution. Therefore, the size of the grid cells is the defining factor in determining the resolution of a raster.