How to host and manage data

The general steps to host and manage your data are:

1. Create a hosted layer
Import, create new data, or convert data to create a hosted layer.
2. Manage layer settings
Manage hosted layer settings and set sharing properties.
3. Get layer data
Get hosted layer data using its item ID or layer URL.

1. Create a hosted layer

You can use tools, such as ArcGIS Online and the developer dashboard, or the portal service to create a hosted layer.

There are three ways to create a new layer:

Import: Upload file(s) with your existing data to create a hosted feature layer.
Create: Define a new empty hosted feature layer.
Convert: Create a new type of hosted layer (data) from an existing hosted feature layer.

To import your data, you can use either of the following tools:

Go to ArcGIS Online > Content > Add item.
Go to ArcGIS for Developers > Dashboard > Layers > Import data.

When a file is imported, a new hosted feature layer is created with the following:

Item: Feature layer (hosted) or Table (hosted)
Layer and data service: Feature layer or table in a Feature service.

If the source file contains coordinate, geometry, or address information, a feature layer is created. If the source file does not contain coordinate information, a table and a layer are created.

You can upload file types such as CSV, XLS, GeoJSON, Shapefile, and File Geodatabase files. To see a full list, visit Supported types.

Tools, data, and services

Use the developer dashboard or ArcGIS Online to import the following file types.

Input file type	Input data format	Output item type	Output layer and data service	Use case
CSV or XLS(X) file Google sheets	Coordinate fields e.g. x, y, latitude, longitude Address field(s) Attribute fields	Feature layer (hosted)	Feature layer (Feature service)	Access and display features, SQL and spatial queries, Edit features, Sync, Extract, Offline
CSV or XLS(X) file Google sheets	Attribute fields	Table (hosted)	Table (Feature Service)	Access features, SQL Query, Update, Sync, Extract, Offline
GeoJSON file*	Geometry (points, lines, and polygons) Attributes	Feature layer (hosted)	Feature layer (Feature service)	Display features, SQL and spatial queries, Edit features, Sync, Extract, Offline
Shapefile (zipped)	Geometry (points, lines, or polygons) Attributes	Feature layer (hosted)	Feature layer (Feature service)	Display features, SQL and spatial queries, Edit features, Sync, Extract, Offline
File Geodatabase (zipped)*	Geometry (points, lines, or polygons) and Attributes Attributes	Feature layer (hosted) Table (hosted)	Feature layer (hosted) (Feature service)	Display features, SQL and spatial queries, Edit features, Sync, Extract, Offline

*If a file contains multiple geometry types, a separate layer is created for each type. Feature layers support only one geometry type per layer.

To create a new empty feature layer with fields you specify, you can use either of the following tools:

Go to ArcGIS Online > Content > Create > Feature layer. You can then create a layer from a template, an existing layer, or from a URL.
Go to ArcGIS for Developers > Dashboard > Layers > Create data > New hosted layer (Feature layer). You can then define the geometry type and fields for the layer interactively.

Either tool will create a new hosted feature layer with the following:

Item: Feature layer (hosted)
Layer and data service: Feature layer in a Feature service.

Next, the most common step is to add data to the new layer. You can use tools such as the Map Viewer to add, update, and delete features.

Tools, data, and services

Below is a description of the tools, input data, and the hosted layer created.

Tool	Input data source	Input data format	Output item type	Output layer and data service	Use case
ArcGIS Online (Create)	Template Hosted feature layer Layer URL	Feature layer (hosted)	Feature layer (hosted)	Feature layer (Feature service)	Display features, SQL and spatial queries, Edit features, Sync, Extract, Offline
Developer dashboard (Add Data)	None. The geometry type and fields are defined interactively.	None	Feature layer (hosted)	Feature layer (Feature service)	Display features, SQL and spatial queries, Edit features, Sync, Extract, Offline

To create or convert an existing hosted layer to a new type of host layer, you can use the following tools:

Go to ArcGIS Online > Content, click an existing feature layer, and then click Publish. Choose Vector tile layer, Tile layer, or WFS layer.
Go to ArcGIS for Developers > Dashboard > Layers, click an existing feature layer. In the Overview, click Publish vector tile layer from the Publish as new layer box .

When you use these tools, the following are created:

Item: An item that matches the type of new layer created.
Layer and data service: One of the following types layers and/or service:
- Tile layer in an image tile service.
- Vector tile layer in a vector tile service.
- WFS layer that references a feature service.
- Scene layer (points only) that references a scene service.

Tools, data, and services

Below is a list of the input data source and the hosted item types from which you can create.

Input data source	Output item type	Output layer and data service	Use case
Feature layer (hosted)	Tile layer (Image tiles) (hosted)	Image tile service (Map Service)	Display static tiles
Feature layer (hosted)	Tile layer (Vector tiles) (hosted)	Vector tile service	Display vector tile data
Feature layer (hosted)	WFS (hosted)	Feature service	Data access, query, display features as WFS
Feature layer (hosted)	Scene Layer (hosted)	Scene service	Data access, display 3D data

2. Manage layer settings

Manage hosted layers and data services with data management tools.

ArcGIS Online and the developer dashboard contain content management tools to manage hosted layers and data services. These tools allow you to manage hosted layers through item pages. You use item pages to set hosted layer properties, set data service capabilities, and perform other maintenance operations such as caching, data uploading, exporting, and publishing.

With an item page, you can:

Set the item name, description, and tags.
Set sharing properties.
View data.
Build indexes and caches.
Optimize drawing and visibility levels.
Set visualization properties.
Set editing and edit tracking properties (hosted feature layer).
Upload and replace data (hosted feature layer).
Create views (hosted feature layer).
Export data (hosted feature layer).
Set offline capabilities.
Publish new layers.

Hosted layer item page

You use an item page to manage and update the properties and capabilities of your hosted layers. The available (visible) settings depend upon the type of hosted layer the item page represents, and also whether it is the owner or another user viewing the item page. Only the owner of an item can change its settings through the item page. If an item is private, it is only accessible to the owner; if it is public, others can search for and find those items on ArcGIS Online.

The following is a list of the primary settings available in an item page for most hosted layers:

Name: The name of the hosted layer.
Description: Text that describes the layer, what data it contains, and what it is used for.
Type: The type of hosted layer. e.g. Feature layer or Tile layer
Layers: Access to other layers if present.
Terms of use: Description of usage restrictions for accessing data.
Tags: Search text used to find item in ArcGIS Online.
*Owner: Name of the owner or publisher of the data.
*Source: The type of data service.
*URL: The URL used to access the layer in the data service.
*ID: The unique identifier for the hosted layer.

*Read-only properties that are assigned when the hosted layers are created.

The most common property to set in an item page for a hosted layer is the sharing property. When a hosted layer is created, the Sharing property (privacy setting) is set to Owner.

The following is a list of available sharing options:

Owner: Only the owner has access.
Organization: All members of your organization can access.
Everyone (public): Anyone can view and access.

To set the sharing property, use the Share button on your item page. If you make your layer private, you will need an access token to access it. To learn more about scoping API keys and OAuth 2.0, go to Security and Authentication.

3. Get layer data

To access hosted layer data, you can use tools such as ArcGIS Online and Map Viewer. You can also access the data programmatically by accessing the data service directly.

Item ID

If you know the item ID for your hosted layer, you find the layer and then query the service to get data.

ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScriptArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScriptArcGIS API for PythonArcGIS REST JS
Use dark colors for code blocksCopy

// Get query layer and set up query
const parcelLayer = new FeatureLayer({
  portalItem: {
    id: "a6fdf2ee0e454393a53ba32b9838b303", // Feature layer item ID
  },
});

function queryFeatureLayer(extent) {
  const parcelQuery = {
    where: "UseType = 'Residential'",
    resultRecordCount: 1,
  };

  parcelLayer
    .queryFeatures(parcelQuery)

    .then((results) => {
      console.log("Feature count: " + results.features.length);
    })
    .catch((error) => {
      console.log(error.error);
    });
};
Go to sample

Layer URL

If you know the feature service URL and index for your hosted layer, you can access the layer directly and then query the service for data.

To access feature layer data, you execute a query to request a subset of the features from the feature layer. To learn more, go to Hosted feature layers.

Public

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https://<HOST>/<UNIQUE_ID>/ArcGIS/rest/services/<SERVICE_NAME>/<LAYER_ID>/query?where=1=1&outFields=*&f=geojson

Private

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https://<HOST>/<UNIQUE_ID>/ArcGIS/rest/services/<SERVICE_NAME>/<LAYER_ID>/query?where=1=1&outFields=*&f=geojson&token=<ACCESS_TOKEN>

Example

https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/LA_County_Parcels/FeatureServer/0/query?f=geojson&where=UseType='Residential'&outFields=*&resultRecordCount=1

To access vector tile data, use a URL with the host, unique service ID, and path to tiles in {z}/{y}/{x} format. To learn more, go to Hosted vector tile layers.

Public

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https://<HOST>/<UNIQUE_ID>/arcgis/rest/services/<SERVICE_NAME>/VectorTileServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}.pbf

Private

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https://<HOST>/<UNIQUE_ID>/arcgis/rest/services/<SERVICE_NAME>/VectorTileServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}.pbf?token=<ACCESS_TOKEN>

Example

https://vectortileservices3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_VTL/VectorTileServer/tile/12/1635/695.pbf

To access image tile data, use a URL with the host, service name, and path to tiles in {z}/{y}/{x} format. To learn more, go to Hosted image tile layers.

Public

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https://<HOST>/arcgis/rest/services/<SERVICE_NAME>/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}

Private

Use dark colors for code blocksCopy
https://<HOST>/arcgis/rest/services/<SERVICE_NAME>/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}?token=<ACCESS_TOKEN>

Example

https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/ArcGIS/rest/services/Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_Styled_ITL/MapServer/tile/16/26150/11169

Tutorials

Import data as a feature layer

Use data management tools to import and create hosted feature layers.

ArcGIS Online

Developer dashboard

Create a new feature layer

Use data management tools to create a new hosted feature layer.

Manage a feature layer

Set the properties and capabilities of a hosted feature layer.

ArcGIS Online

Access feature layer data

Use ArcGIS Online tools to access and display feature layer data.

ArcGIS Online

Map Viewer

Scene Viewer

Publish a vector tile layer

Use ArcGIS Online to publish a vector tile layer.

ArcGIS Online

Add a feature layer

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

Add a vector tile layer

Access and display a vector tile layer in a map.

Add an image tile layer

Access and display an image tile layer in a map.

Esri Leaflet

MapLibre

OpenLayers

Style a feature layer

Use symbols and renderers to style feature layers.

Query a feature layer (spatial)

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

Query a feature layer (SQL)

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

Edit feature data

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

JavaScript

ArcGIS REST JS

REST

Display a popup

Format a popup to show attributes in a feature layer.

Services

Feature service

Add, update, delete, and query feature data.

Vector tile service

Store and access vector tile data.

Image tile service

Store and access image tile data.

API support

	Import and create data	Display data	Query data	Edit data
ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript
ArcGIS Maps SDK for Kotlin
ArcGIS Maps SDK for Swift
ArcGIS Maps SDK for Java
ArcGIS Maps SDK for .NET
ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt
ArcGIS API for Python
ArcGIS REST JS	¹
Esri Leaflet			²	²
MapLibre GL JS		³	²	²
OpenLayers		³	²	²

Full supportPartial supportNo support

1. Access portal via HTTP request and authentication.
2. Access via ArcGIS REST JS.
3. Requires manual application of renderers

Tools

Developer dashboard

Manage API keys, service usage, and data with the ArcGIS Developers website.

ArcGIS Online

Create, manage, and share content and data with cloud-based GIS tools.

Map Viewer

Create, explore, and share web maps for 2D applications.

Mapping APIs and location services

How to host and manage data

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Mapping APIs and location services

How to host and manage data

1. Create a hosted layer

2. Manage layer settings

3. Get layer data

1. Create a hosted layer

Tools, data, and services

Tools, data, and services

Tools, data, and services

2. Manage layer settings

Hosted layer item page

Sharing your layer

3. Get layer data

Item ID

Layer URL

Public

Private

Example

Public

Private

Example

Public

Private

Example

Tutorials

Import data as a feature layer

Create a new feature layer

Manage a feature layer

Access feature layer data

Publish a vector tile layer

Add a feature layer

Add a vector tile layer

Add an image tile layer

Style a feature layer

Query a feature layer (spatial)

Query a feature layer (SQL)

Edit feature data

Display a popup

Services

Feature service

Vector tile service

Image tile service

API support

Tools

Developer dashboard

ArcGIS Online

Map Viewer

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