Query a feature layer (spatial)

In this tutorial, you access and query a hosted feature layer.

A feature layer can contain a large number of features. To access a subset of these features, you can execute an SQL or spatial query, either together or individually. The results can contain the attributes, geometry, or both for each record. SQL and spatial queries are useful when a feature layer is very large and you want to access only a subset of its data.

Prerequisites

Steps

Create a private feature layer

For this tutorial, you will use the Santa Monica Parcels dataset to create a private hosted feature layer in your portal.

1. In your web browser, go to the Santa Monica Parcels item.

2. Click the Download button to download the zip file locally. Do not unzip this file.

3. Import the shapefile into ArcGIS.

   ArcGIS Location PlatformArcGIS Online

   1. In your web browser, go to ArcGIS.com and sign in with your ArcGIS Location Platform account.

   2. In the top navigation bar, click Content.

   3. Click New item. To upload the Santa Monica Parcels shapefile, you can either:

      • Drag and drop the file.
      • Or, click Your device and navigate to the file path.

   4. Select Add Santa Monica Parcels.zip to publish the file as a hosted feature layer.

   5. In Fields, leave all fields at their default settings and click Next.

   6. In Location settings, leave the default settings and click Next.

   7. Set the following information in the item details pane:

      • Title: Santa Monica Parcels
      • Tags: Santa Monica Parcels.
      • Summary: Parcels in the Santa Monica Mountains.

   8. Click Next to create the new feature layer and feature service.

   9. In the feature service item page, make sure the Share setting is set to Owner.

   10. Scroll down to the URL section and copy the URL into a safe location. You will use this in a later step. The URL will look something like: https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Santa_Monica_Parcels/FeatureServer.

Get the starter app

Select a type of authentication and follow the steps to create a new app.

Set up authentication

Set developer credentials

Use the API key or OAuth developer credentials so your application can access ArcGIS services.

Make the request

Copy and paste the code below, following the steps to make a request to the feature service.

1. Reference the arcgis-rest-request and arcgis-rest-feature-service libraries either through CDN, ES Modules, or Node JS.

2. Paste the feature layer URL you copied earlier to the featureLayerUrl variable and append /0 at the end of the URL.

3. Define the parameters needed for the request.

4. Make a request to the feature service and handle the results.

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    <script>
    // when including ArcGIS REST JS all exports are available from the same arcgisRest global
    /* Use for API key authentication */

    const accessToken = "YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN";
    const authentication = arcgisRest.ApiKeyManager.fromKey(accessToken);

    // or

    /* Use for user authentication */
    // const authentication = await arcgisRest.ArcGISIdentityManager.beginOAuth2({
    //   clientId: "YOUR_CLIENT_ID", // Your client ID from OAuth credentials
    //   redirectUri: "YOUR_REDIRECT_URI", // The redirect URL registered in your OAuth credentials
    //   portal: "https://www.arcgis.com/sharing/rest" // Your portal URL
    // })

    const queryGeometry = {
      xmin: -13193261.0,
      ymin: 4028181.6,
      xmax: -13185072.9,
      ymax: 4035576.6,
      spatialReference: {
        wkid: 101200
      }
    };

    // Replace the following with your own layer URL
    const featureLayerUrl = "https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Santa_Monica_public_parcels/FeatureServer/0"; // Your feature layer URL goes here

    arcgisRest
      .queryFeatures({
        url: featureLayerUrl,
        geometry: queryGeometry,
        geometryType: "esriGeometryEnvelope",
        spatialRel: "esriSpatialRelIntersects",
        authentication
      })
      .then((response) => {
        console.log(response.features);
        document.getElementById("result").textContent = JSON.stringify(response.features, null, 2);
      });

    </script>

Run the app

Run the app.

What's next?

Learn how to use additional location services in these tutorials: