Edit features

Editing features is the process of adding, deleting, or updating features in a feature layer or table. To do so, you can use ArcGIS Maps SDKs, open source libraries, scripting APIs, or the REST APIs. The editing capabilities of a feature service are enabled in the Editing settings of the hosted feature layer (item). You use the settings to control the editing functionality you need to support your applications and workflows. Learn more in Editing and synchronization.

Types of editing workflows

The are two types of editing workflows: simple edits and edits with tracking.

Simple editing

You use simple editing when you want to add, delete, or update features.

• Add: Submits new geometry and/or attribute values to the feature service.
• Delete: Removes existing features from the feature service.
• Update: Updates existing geometry and/or attribute value in a feature service.

Edits with tracking

You use edits with tracking when you want to track the changes, users, and offline usage of features.

• Tracking of changes to the data: Allows custom applications to identify which features have been added, updated, or deleted.

• Tracking of the users making edits

  Allows you to track:

  • Which user created a feature.
  • The date and time a feature was created.
  • Which user last edited a feature.
  • The date and time the feature was last edited.

• Offline sync: Allow other users to take the hosted feature layer offline and work with it while disconnected from the network.

How to edit features

The general steps to edit features in a feature layer are outlined below.

1. Find the URL for the feature layer and feature service you want to edit.
2. Configure the service to enable editing.
3. Determine the feature layer edit operation (addFeature, updateFeatures, deleteFeatures, or applyEdits) that is appropriate for your workflow.
4. Send a POST request containing your edits in a Feature object JSON structure to the feature service.

Add features

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https://{host}/{orgainizationId}/ArcGIS/rest/services/{serviceName}>/FeatureServer/{id}/addFeatures?{addParameters}

Required parameters

Key parameters

Delete features

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https://{host}/{orgainizationId}/ArcGIS/rest/services/{serviceName}>/FeatureServer/{id}/deleteFeatures?{deleteParameters}

Required parameters

Key parameters

Update features

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https://{host}/{orgainizationId}/ArcGIS/rest/services/{serviceName}>/FeatureServer/{id}/updateFeatures?{updateParameters}

Required parameters

Key parameters

Code examples

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POST https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/my_points/FeatureServer/0/AddFeatures HTTP/1.1

f=json
&token={ACCESS_TOKEN}
&features=[
  {
    "geometry": {
      "spatialReference": { "latestWkid": 3857, "wkid": 102100 },
      "x": -13225414.91018997,
      "y": 4028962.1014019456
    },
    "attributes": {
      "name": "Point Dume natural preserve",
      "rating": "3"
      "SOURCEID": "111111"
    }
  }
]

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{
    "addResults": [
        {
            "objectId": 4,
            "uniqueId": 4,
            "globalId": null,
            "success": true
        }
    ]
}

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POST https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/my_points/FeatureServer/0/updateFeatures HTTP/1.1

f=json
&token={ACCESS_TOKEN}
&features=[
  {
    "attributes": {
      "objectid": 6
      "name": "Point Dume natural preserve (updated)",
      "rating": "3"
      "SOURCEID": "222"
    }
  }
]

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{
    "updateResults": [
        {
            "objectId": 6,
            "uniqueId": 6,
            "globalId": null,
            "success": true
        }
    ]
}

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POST https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/my_points/FeatureServer/0/deleteFeatures HTTP/1.1

f=json
&token={ACCESS_TOKEN}
&objectids=[6]

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{
    "deleteResults": [
        {
            "objectId": 6,
            "uniqueId": 6,
            "globalId": null,
            "success": true
        }
    ]
}

Tutorials

Add a feature layer

Access and display point, line, and polygon features from a feature service.

JavaScript  .NET Kotlin Swift Java Qt  Esri Leaflet MapLibre OpenLayers CesiumJS  Python 

Add a vector tile layer

Access and display a vector tile layer in a map.

JavaScript  Esri Leaflet MapLibre OpenLayers 

Add a map tile layer

Access and display a map tile layer in a map.

Esri Leaflet MapLibre OpenLayers CesiumJS 

Style a feature layer

Use symbols and renderers to style feature layers.

JavaScript  .NETJava Qt  Esri Leaflet MapLibre OpenLayers CesiumJS 

Query a feature layer (spatial)

Execute a spatial query to get features from a feature layer.

JavaScript  Esri Leaflet MapLibre OpenLayers CesiumJS  Python  REST 

Query a feature layer (SQL)

Execute a SQL query to access polygon features from a feature layer.

JavaScript  .NETJava Qt  Esri Leaflet MapLibre OpenLayers CesiumJS  Python  ArcGIS REST JS  REST 

Edit feature data

Add, update, and delete features in a feature service.

JavaScript  Python  ArcGIS REST JS  REST 

Display a popup

Format a popup to show attributes in a feature layer.

JavaScript  Esri Leaflet MapLibre OpenLayers CesiumJS 

Workflows

Create a feature service for an app

Learn how to import parcel data, create and style a feature layer, and then access the features in an app.

Create a feature layer view for an editor app

Learn how to import parcel data, create and style a feature layer view, and then access the features in an editing app.

Create a vector tile service for an app

Learn how to import parcel data, style a feature layer, and then create a vector tile service for an app.

Create a map tile service for an app

Learn how to import contour data, style a feature layer, and create a map tile service for an app.

Services

API support

Use Client APIs to create, manage, and access data services. The table below outlines the level of support for each API.

Tools