Feature instances are related to graphical elements and elements are then related to the graph.

According to the figure:

• Multiple edges can be created from one element. For example, element 1 creates edges 1, 4, and 5.
• Multiple elements can result from one edge. For example, elements 3, 4, and 5 create edges 6 and 7.
• Elements are not necessarily broken as a result of node creation; this is an option in Bentley Geospatial Administrator. For example, elements 1 and 2 are not broken although a node (n5) is created at their intersection.
• The link between feature classes is not relevant to multi-feature tagging in this case. Looking at hierarchical topology, the element considered in a graph could be one element with multiple feature tags or multiple elements with one feature tag for each.

Topology within Bentley Map consists of a named topology and named topology layers containing one or more features that participate in that topology. Features that participate in a topology layer interact during the editing process.