What is a basemap?
A basemap is the foundational layer and data that provides the overall visual and geographic context for a map or scene. It allows you to easily see where geographic features are located and understand the spatial relationships between them. It typically includes features and labels for land, water, roads, buildings, cities, places, and administrative boundaries, but can also include satellite and aerial image data. Basemaps provide context for maps at global and local scales.
Basemaps are categorized by the type of data they support and the type of cartographic design they represent. This is known as the basemap style. In ArcGIS, there are two main families of basemap styles based on data provider type: ArcGIS Basemap styles and Open Basemap styles. Examples of basemap styles in these families are are arcgis/streets, arcgis/navigation, arcgis/outdoor, arcgis/imagery (satellite), open/osm-style, and open/streets.
The data and styles for basemaps are provided by data sources known as ArcGIS Basemap services.
How a basemap works
A basemap is displayed with a basemap layer. A basemap layer references a data source that it uses to access data and/or styles. The availability of data and styles depends on the type of data source and its capabilities. A basemap layer is typically the first layer added to a map or scene. When a view displays a map or scene, it is the first layer to draw, followed by data layers, and then graphics (if present).
Figure 1: A basemap is displayed with a basemap layer in a map or scene.
What's next?
Learn about the different types of data sources you can use for basemaps.