Data layers

What is a data layer?

A data layer, also known as an operational layer, is a client-side layerA layer is a reference to a collection of geographic data that is used to access and display data. The data for layers are typically provided by the basemap layer service and data services.Learn more that can access geographic data from a data sourceA data source is a service or file containing geographic data that is accessed by a data layer.Learn more. You use a data layer to display geographic data on top of a basemap layerA basemap layer is the layer in a map or scene that displays basemap data. The data source for a basemap layer is typically a basemap service.Learn more in a mapA map is a collection of layers that are displayed in 2D. It is typically composed of a basemap layer and data layers.Learn more or sceneA scene is a collection of layers that are displayed in 3D. It is typically composed of a basemap layer, data layers, and 3D data.Learn more. The data source for the layer can be a data serviceData services, also known as hosted data services, are services created dynamically to store and provide access to your data in ArcGIS. Examples are feature services, vector tile services, map tile services, image services, and scene services.Learn more or a file such as a Shapefile or GeoJSON file.

You can use data layers to:

• Display feature or tile data from feature services, vector tile services, or image tile services.
• Display layers with renders and symbols (data-driven styles).
• Access data through SQL and spatial queries.
• Provide access to data attributes for point, line, and polygon feature data.
• Add, update, and delete feature data.

How a data layer works

A data layerA data layer is a layer that references geographic data from a file or a service and is used to visualize the data in a map or scene.Learn more provides access to geographic data that is displayed in a map or scene. Each layer references a file or service data sourceA data source is a service or file containing geographic data that is accessed by a data layer.Learn more. The data source contains either as vector data (points, lines, polygons and attributes) or raster data (images). Different types of layers can access and display different types of data.

The data for a data layerA data layer is a layer that references geographic data from a file or a service and is used to visualize the data in a map or scene.Learn more is typically stored in ArcGIS as a data serviceData services, also known as hosted data services, are services created dynamically to store and provide access to your data in ArcGIS. Examples are feature services, vector tile services, map tile services, image services, and scene services.Learn more. You can use feature services, vector tile services, and image tile services to host your data. Learn more in Data hosting.

To add a data layerA data layer is a layer that references geographic data from a file or a service and is used to visualize the data in a map or scene.Learn more to a map or scene, you typically add imagery or tile layers first, and then polygons, lines, and points layers last. A map or scene controls the order of the layers, and the map or scene view combines the layers to create the final display.

Figure 1: Data layers are added on top of a basemap layer.

Types of data layers

You can use different types of data layersA data layer is a layer that references geographic data from a file or a service and is used to visualize the data in a map or scene.Learn more to access and display different types of data in your applications. Data layers can access ArcGIS data sources and other types of data sources such as OGC data and files.

Different data layersA data layer is a layer that references geographic data from a file or a service and is used to visualize the data in a map or scene.Learn more provide different types of functionality. The functionality available is largely dependent on the capabilities of the APIA Client API is a web, native, or scripting Application Programming Interface (including all ArcGIS, open source, and third-party APIs) that has mapping capabilities and can be used to access ArcGIS location services.Learn more and the data sourceA data source is a service or file containing geographic data that is accessed by a data layer.Learn more. For example, a feature layer can access a feature service and perform queries, edits, and data export, whereas a vector tile layer can only access tiles from a vector tile service.

ArcGIS data layers

The following layers work with ArcGIS data sourcesA data source is a service or file containing geographic data that is accessed by a data layer.Learn more.

* Offline layers can be used with ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps.

** ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript only.

*** ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps only.

OGC data layers

The following layers work with OGC data sourcesA data source is a service or file containing geographic data that is accessed by a data layer.Learn more.

* Offline layers can be used with the ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps.

Other data layers

The following layers work with non-ArcGIS data sourcesA data source is a service or file containing geographic data that is accessed by a data layer.Learn more.

* Offline layers can be used with the ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps.

** ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript API only.

*** ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps only.

Code examples

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      const trailheadsLayer = new FeatureLayer({
        url: "https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Trailheads_styled/FeatureServer/0",
      });
      map.add(trailheadsLayer);

      const trailsLayer = new FeatureLayer({
        url: "https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Trails_styled/FeatureServer/0",
      });
      map.add(trailsLayer, 0);

      const parksLayer = new FeatureLayer({
        url: "https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Parks_and_Open_Space_styled/FeatureServer/0",
      });
      map.add(parksLayer, 0);

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      const trailheadsLayer = new FeatureLayer({
        url: "https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Trailheads_styled/FeatureServer/0",
      });
      scene.add(trailheadsLayer);

      const trailsLayer = new FeatureLayer({
        url: "https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Trails_styled/FeatureServer/0",
      });
      scene.add(trailsLayer, 0);

      const parksLayer = new FeatureLayer({
        url: "https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Parks_and_Open_Space_styled/FeatureServer/0",
      });
      scene.add(parksLayer, 0);

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      esriConfig.apiKey = "YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN";

      const vtlLayer = new VectorTileLayer({
        url: "https://vectortileservices3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_Styled/VectorTileServer/resources/styles/root.json",
        opacity: 0.75,
      });

      const map = new Map({
        basemap: "arcgis/light-gray",
        layers: [vtlLayer],
      });

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      const geojsonLayer = new GeoJSONLayer({
        url: "https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/feed/v1.0/summary/all_month.geojson",
        copyright: "USGS Earthquakes",
      });

      esriConfig.apiKey = "YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN";

      const map = new Map({
        basemap: "arcgis/light-gray",
        layers: [geojsonLayer],
      });

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      const layer = new WMSLayer({
        url: "https://ows.terrestris.de/osm/service",
        sublayers: [
          {
            name: "OSM-WMS", //OpenStreetMap WMS by terrestris GmbH and Co. KG.
          },
        ],
      });

      const map = new Map({
        basemap: {
          baseLayers: [layer],
        },
      });

Tutorials

Display a popup

Format a popup to show attributes in a feature layer.

JavaScript Maps SDKLeafletMapLibre GL JSOpenLayersCesiumJS