Mapping and visualization in ArcMap

There are two primary map display panels in ArcMap: the data frame and the layout view. The data frame provides a geographic "window", or map frame, in which you can display and work with geographic information as a series of map layers. The layout view provides a page view where map elements (such as the data frame, a scale bar, and a map title) are arranged on a page. You can learn more about data frames and map layouts below.
When you save a map you have created in ArcMap, it will automatically append a file extension (.mxd) to your map document name. All the maps you compose in ArcMap are saved to an ArcMap document file named with a .mxd extension. Map document files are managed in file system folders. You can work with an existing .mxd by opening it in Windows. This will start an ArcMap session for that .mxd.