GIS5

Desktop ArcGIS (v8.x)
ArcGIS is actually comprised of three distinct but coordinated applications or software products: ArcMap, ArcCatalog, and ArcToolbox.
ArcMap is the application used primarily to examine data, query attributes, spatial analysis, and design maps for output.
ArcCatalog is the application used to browse and manage spatial data. Think of it as a specialized Windows Explorer, but it can be used to search for spatial data, preview it, and create and manage meta-data (to describe where the data came from, its projection, attributes, scale, accuracy, etc.).
ArcToolbox is the application used to import and convert data into different formats, to re-project geographic data, and to conduct spatial analysis (see Table 1.1).
Within each application, there are three levels or degrees of functionality, ranging from basic to advanced. These levels are called ArcView, ArcEditor, and ArcInfo.