Tutorial: Create a web map | Documentation

Learn how to use the Map ViewerMap Viewer is a browser-based mapping tool that can view, create, and save web maps. It can also perform mapping, visualization, and spatial analysis operations.Learn more to create a web mapA web map is a map stored as a JSON object that defines properties such as the basemap layer, data layers, layer styles, and pop-up styles. Its JSON structure is defined by the web map specification.Learn more for your application.

This tutorial shows you how to use the Map ViewerMap Viewer is a browser-based mapping tool that can view, create, and save web maps. It can also perform mapping, visualization, and spatial analysis operations.Learn more to create and save a web mapA web map is a map stored as a JSON object that defines properties such as the basemap layer, data layers, layer styles, and pop-up styles. Its JSON structure is defined by the web map specification.Learn more with hosted feature layersA hosted feature layer is a hosted layer (item) in a portal that is used to manage the properties and settings of a spatially-enabled feature layer in a feature service.Learn more. You also inspect the JSON that contains the web map settings stored in the itemAn item, also known as a content item, is a resource stored in a portal such as a web map, hosted layer, style, script tool, file, or notebook.Learn more.

Prerequisites

You need an ArcGIS Location Platform or ArcGIS Online account for this tutorial.

Steps

Set the basemap layer

To create a web mapA web map is a map stored as a JSON object that defines properties such as the basemap layer, data layers, layer styles, and pop-up styles. Its JSON structure is defined by the web map specification.Learn more with the Map ViewerMap Viewer is a browser-based mapping tool that can view, create, and save web maps. It can also perform mapping, visualization, and spatial analysis operations.Learn more, start by setting the basemap layer. Use the Outdoor vector tile basemap layer.

Open the Map Viewer and sign into your ArcGIS account.
In the left panel, click Basemap > Outdoor.
In the left panel, click Basemap to close the window.

Open the Map Viewer and sign into your ArcGIS account.
In the left panel, click Layers > Add > Browse layers.
- Click the My content dropdown and select ArcGIS Online.
- In the search box, type Outdoor (for Developers).
- Click on the resulting Tile Layer owned by esri_vector, then click Use as basemap.
In the left panel, click Layers to close the window.

Add data layers

To display data in a web mapA web map is a map stored as a JSON object that defines properties such as the basemap layer, data layers, layer styles, and pop-up styles. Its JSON structure is defined by the web map specification.Learn more, you can add hosted feature layersA hosted feature layer is a hosted layer (item) in a portal that is used to manage the properties and settings of a spatially-enabled feature layer in a feature service.Learn more for trailheads, trails, and parks in the Santa Monica Mountain area.

In the left panel, click Add data > Add layer from URL.
For each URL:
- Copy and paste the URL > Add to map.
  - Parks and Open Space: https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/ArcGIS/rest/services/Parks_and_Open_Space/FeatureServer/0
  - Trails: https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Trails/FeatureServer/0
  - Trailheads: https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Trailheads/FeatureServer/0
  - Boundary: https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/ArcGIS/rest/services/Boundary/FeatureServer/0

Save the web map

After you create a web map, you can save it. Saving the map will create a new itemAn item, also known as a content item, is a resource stored in a portal such as a web map, hosted layer, style, script tool, file, or notebook.Learn more and you can access the map in an application. You can also set the security of the item to the appropriate sharing level if you have an ArcGIS Online account.

In the left panel, click Save as. At minimum, you need to provide a title for your web map.
Optionally, set the sharing level of the map in the item page.

Your web map should look something like this.

View the web map JSON

A web mapA web map is a map stored as a JSON object that defines properties such as the basemap layer, data layers, layer styles, and pop-up styles. Its JSON structure is defined by the web map specification.Learn more itemAn item, also known as a content item, is a resource stored in a portal such as a web map, hosted layer, style, script tool, file, or notebook.Learn more contains JSON that defines the map properties. The structure of the JSON is defined by the Web Map Specification. Applications can access a web map item or read the JSON directly to format layers and create a map, so it is useful to know how to get the JSON for a web map.

In your web browser, find the item IDAn item ID is a unique identifier representing a single item stored, managed, and accessed in a portal, such as a web map, hosted layer, or file.Learn more at the end of the URL for the web map just saved.
- For example: c1ed0753d9be4492a6d4c167febf2163
In a new browser tab, copy and paste the following URL and insert your item ID. This will return the JSON for your web map.
- https://www.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/content/items/<ITEM_ID>/data
- For example: https://www.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/content/items/c1ed0753d9be4492a6d4c167febf2163/data
In the JSON, identify the operational (data) layer and basemap layer settings set earlier. Here's an example:

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{
  "operationalLayers":[
    {
      "id":"Boundary_6040",
      "layerType":"ArcGISFeatureLayer",
      "url":"https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Boundary/FeatureServer/0",
      "visibility":true,
      "opacity":1,
      "title":"Boundary",
      "itemId":"30cf3b4c11c5408d87f255ba4e9aa611",
      "popupInfo":{
        "title":"Boundary_0",
        "fieldInfos":[
          {
            "fieldName":"OBJECTID",
            "label":"OBJECTID",
            "isEditable":true,
            "tooltip":"",
            "visible":false,
            "format":{
Expand

Now that you have a web mapA web map is a map stored as a JSON object that defines properties such as the basemap layer, data layers, layer styles, and pop-up styles. Its JSON structure is defined by the web map specification.Learn more, you can follow more tutorials to style the layers with the Map ViewerMap Viewer is a browser-based mapping tool that can view, create, and save web maps. It can also perform mapping, visualization, and spatial analysis operations.Learn more or display it in an application with an API.

What's next?

Learn how to use additional tools, APIs, and location services in these tutorials:

Style layers in a web map

Use Map Viewer to style layers in a web map.

Map Viewer

Display a web map

Create and display a map from a web map.

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