Introduction to styling and data visualizations

Styling is the process of creating meaningful data visualizations for layers in 2D maps and 3D scenes. Styling helps you build more meaningful applications by telling a story about the data. The two main types of styling you can perform is to create a custom basemap style for a basemap layer or you can define a data-driven visualization for feature layers. You create basemap styles interactively with the ArcGIS Vector Tile style Editor. You create data-driven visualizations by creating symbols and renderers with different ArcGIS Maps SDKs. Learn how to create different styles and visualizations in the topics below.

Census tracts styled with a dot density renderer to show level of educational attainment

Topics

Basemap styles

Learn how to create custom basemap styles for the basemap styles service.

Point, line, and polygon styles

Learn how to define simple symbols and renders for feature layers.

Data-driven visualization

Learn how to define symbols and renders based on attribute values in feature layers.

3D visualization

Learn how to create 3D symbols and visualizations.

Tutorials

APIs
Tools

Services

Basemap styles service (v1)

Access basemap styles such as streets, navigation, and imagery for maps and scenes.

Feature service

Add, update, delete, and query feature data.

API support

Basemap stylesPoint, line, and polygon stylesData-driven visualization3D visualization
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 Python12
Full supportPartial supportNo support
  • 1. Define renderers with JavaScript.
  • 2. Supports web scenes only.

Different APIs have different levels of support for data-driven visualization.

Unique typesClass breaksVisual variablesTimeMultivariatePredominanceDot densityRelationship
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
Full supportPartial supportNo support

    Tools

    Your browser is no longer supported. Please upgrade your browser for the best experience. See our browser deprecation post for more details.