Overview

Data hosting, also referred to as data publishing, is the process of securely storing, managing, and accessing your geographic data in ArcGIS as a data service. You can easily host your data by using data management tools to create services such as feature services, vector tile services, map tile services, and image services. Each service API supports a specific type of data and offers a specific set of capabilities. For example, feature services allow you to access, display, edit, and update feature data. Tile services allow you to access and display vector or map tile data. The type of service you use depends on the data format, the size and complexity of the data, and the functionality required. This section covers how to create, manage, and access hosted data services for your applications.

To get started, go to the topics below.

Examples of global datasets hosted in ArcGIS as different types of data services

Topics

Introduction to data services

Learn about data services, why to use them, and what you need to get started.

Types of data services

Learn about the different types of data services you can use to host your data.

How to work with data services

Learn about the steps to create, manage, and access data services in ArcGIS.

Feature services

Learn how to create, manage, and access services that support feature data.

Vector tile services

Learn how to create, manage, and access services that support vector tile data.

Map tile services

Learn how to create, manage, and access services that support map tile data.

Image services

Learn how to create, manage, and access services that support imagery and raster data.

Tutorials

Tools

Import data to create a feature layer

Use data management tools to import files and create a feature layer in a feature service.


Define a new feature layer

Use data management tools to define and create a new empty feature layer in a feature service.


Manage a feature layer

Use a hosted feature layer item to set the properties and settings of a feature layer in a feature service.


Create a vector tile service

Use data management tools to create a new vector tile service from a feature service.


Create a map tile service

Use ArcGIS Online or scripting APIs to publish a map tile service.


APIs

Add a vector tile layer

Access and display a vector tile layer in a map.


Add a map tile layer

Access and display a map tile layer in a map.


Query a feature layer (spatial)

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


Edit feature data

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


Display a popup

Format a popup to show attributes in a feature layer.


Workflows

Services

API support

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

CreateManageAccess
ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript1
ArcGIS Maps SDK for Kotlin1
ArcGIS Maps SDK for Swift1
ArcGIS Maps SDK for Java1
ArcGIS Maps SDK for .NET1
ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt1
ArcGIS API for Python
ArcGIS REST JS
Esri Leaflet2
MapLibre GL JS23
OpenLayers23
Full supportPartial supportNo support
  • 1. Use portal class and direct REST API requests
  • 2. Access via ArcGIS REST JS
  • 3. Requires manually setting styles for renderers

Tools

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