Examining vector layer attributes

A true GIS layer contains both spatial geometry and non-spatial attributes. In this recipe, we'll access a vector point layer's attributes in PyQGIS. We'll use a file-based layer from a shapefile, but once a layer is loaded in QGIS, every vector layer works the same way.

Getting ready

Once again, we'll use the same New York City Museums layer from the Loading a vector layer from a file recipe in this chapter. You can download the layer from https://github.com/GeospatialPython/Learn/raw/master/NYC_MUSEUMS_GEO.zip.

Unzip that file and place the shapefile's contents in a directory named nyc within your qgis_data directory, within your root or home directory.

How to do it...

In the following steps, we'll load the layer, access the features iterator, grab the first feature, and then view the attributes as a Python list:

1. First, load the shapefile as a vector layer:

           layer = QgsVectorLayer("/qgis_data/nyc/NYC_MUSEUMS_GEO.shp",
                               ...