What term describes a coordinate-based data model representing points, lines, and polygons?

The correct choice is vector, which describes a coordinate-based data model that effectively represents geographic features using geometric shapes such as points, lines, and polygons. In this context, points are used to represent discrete locations, lines are ideal for linear features like roads or rivers, and polygons are utilized for areas, such as lakes or administrative boundaries.

This model is particularly valuable in many GIS applications because it allows for precise representation and analysis of spatial relationships. Vector data can include attributes for each feature, enabling rich analyses and visualization based on both spatial and non-spatial information.

The other options refer to different data structures. Raster data utilizes a grid of pixels or cells, which represent continuous data, and is more suited for representing phenomena like elevation or temperature, rather than discrete geographic features. TIN, or Triangulated Irregular Network, represents surface data and is a specific vector-based model used primarily for representing terrain. Pixel simply refers to the smallest unit of a raster image and does not encompass an entire data model for geographic representation.