A data layer, also known as an operational layer, is a client-side layer that can access geographic data from a data source. The data source for the layer can be a data service or a file such as GeoJSON.
The data for a data layer is typically stored in ArcGIS as a data service using ArcGIS tools. You can use data layers to display feature or tile data from feature, vector tile, or map tile services in your application.
Feature layers
If you have features containing geometry and attributes, you can import the data to create an ArcGIS feature layer in a feature service. To access the data, you can use the URL of the service to query and return features. You can style and display the results in a map or scene. Feature layers can also contain styling information as part of the service response.
How to access a feature service
You can use Esri Leaflet to access a hosted feature layer with the L.esri.Feature
class, which extends L.Layer
. To access the class, reference the main Esri Leaflet plugin.
- Import your data from a CSV, XLS, GeoJSON, or Shapefile file to create a hosted feature layer.
- Get the URL for the feature layer.
- Reference the Esri Leaflet plugin.
- Create the
L.esri.feature
class and set the URL with the layer ID.Layer - Add the layer to the map.
Example
Display a feature layer
<script src="https://unpkg.com/esri-leaflet@3.0.12/dist/esri-leaflet.js"
integrity="sha512-oUArlxr7VpoY7f/dd3ZdUL7FGOvS79nXVVQhxlg6ij4Fhdc4QID43LUFRs7abwHNJ0EYWijiN5LP2ZRR2PY4hQ=="
crossorigin=""></script>
<script>
const trailheads = L.esri.featureLayer({
url: "https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Trailheads_Styled/FeatureServer/0"
}).addTo(map);
</script>
Vector tile layers
To access and display a vector tile layer, you use the vector
class, which extends L.Layer
.
If you want to access and display your data as vector tile data, you can publish a vector tile layer from a feature layer, and then display it in a map using the plugin.
How to access the vector tile service
- Import your data from a CSV, XLS, GeoJSON, or Shapefile file to create a hosted feature layer.
- Create a vector tile service by publishing the feature layer as a vector tile layer in ArcGIS Online.
- Get the URL.
- Reference the Esri Leaflet and the vector plugins.
- Create the
L.esri.Vector.vector
class and set the service URL.Tile Layer
Example
Display a vector tile layer
<script src="https://unpkg.com/esri-leaflet@3.0.12/dist/esri-leaflet.js"
integrity="sha512-oUArlxr7VpoY7f/dd3ZdUL7FGOvS79nXVVQhxlg6ij4Fhdc4QID43LUFRs7abwHNJ0EYWijiN5LP2ZRR2PY4hQ=="
crossorigin=""></script>
<script src="https://unpkg.com/esri-leaflet-vector@4.2.3/dist/esri-leaflet-vector.js"
integrity="sha512-7rLAors9em7cR3/583gZSvu1mxwPBUjWjdFJ000pc4Wpu+fq84lXF1l4dbG4ShiPQ4pSBUTb4e9xaO6xtMZIlA=="
crossorigin=""></script>
<script>
L.esri.Vector.vectorTileLayer(
"https://vectortileservices3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_VTL/VectorTileServer"
).addTo(map);
</script>
Map tile layers
To display a map tile layer, you use the L.esri.tiled
class.
How to access a map tile service
- Import your data from a CSV, XLS, GeoJSON, or Shapefile file to create a hosted feature layer.
- Create a tile layer in ArcGIS Online by navigating to its item page > Publish > Tile layer.
- Get the URL.
- Reference the Esri Leaflet plugin.
- Create the
L.esri.tiled
class and set the service URL in your application.M a p Layer
Example
Display a map tile layer
<script src="https://unpkg.com/esri-leaflet@3.0.12/dist/esri-leaflet.js"
integrity="sha512-oUArlxr7VpoY7f/dd3ZdUL7FGOvS79nXVVQhxlg6ij4Fhdc4QID43LUFRs7abwHNJ0EYWijiN5LP2ZRR2PY4hQ=="
crossorigin=""></script>
<script>
L.esri
.tiledMapLayer({
url: "https://services.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/USA_Topo_Maps/MapServer"
})
.addTo(map);
</script>