Create a feature layer

Creating a feature layer in portalArcGIS portal, also known as a portal, is a website with applications and tools that can be used to create, manage, access, and share geospatial content and data. It supports security and authentication, developer credentials, content and data service management, user and group management, and site administration. A portal can be hosted in Esri's infrastructure or your own infrastructure.Learn more is a important process for working with spatial data. A feature layerA feature layer (client-side) is a data layer that can access and display features from a feature service that has the same type of geometry and attribute fields.Learn more represents geographic features, such as points, lines, or polygons, and associated attributes. This layer can be used to visualize, analyze, and share spatial information. The process involves uploading or creating data, configuring the layer's properties, and publishing it as a feature layer that can be accessed and used by other users or applications. This section will describe the process of creating a feature layer, publishing it as a feature service, and adding features to it.

Why create a feature layer

You create a feature layer to:

• Import existing file or Excel spreadsheet data into ArcGIS
• Store spatial data like points, polylines, and polygons.
• Store string and numeric data in fields.
• Store attachments with features.
• Store and access features in different formats (JSON, GeoJSON, or PBF).

How to create a feature layer

The general steps to create a feature layer:

1. Sign into a portal

Sign into your portal to use data management toolData management tools are ArcGIS software applications and functionality in portal and ArcGIS Pro that can be used by developers to create, manage, and edit content and data such as web maps, hosted layers, and data services for their applications.Learn more with your ArcGIS accountAn ArcGIS account is an identity with a user type and set of privileges that can access specific ArcGIS products, tools, APIs, services, and resources. The main account types that can be used for development are an ArcGIS Location Platform account, ArcGIS Online account, and ArcGIS Enterprise account. ArcGIS Location Platform and ArcGIS Online accounts are also associated with a subscription.Learn more:

• Go to ArcGIS.com and sign in to your portal (ArcGIS Location Platform or ArcGIS Online)
• ArcGIS Enterprise portal (ArcGIS Enterprise)

2. Use tools to create feature layer

Use the data management tool to create the following:

• Hosted feature layer: A new item in your portal to manage the item properties and service settings.
• Feature layer and feature service: A new feature layer in a feature service for the data.

Below are instructions to create a basic feature layer:

1. In the Contents tab of your portal, click New item > Feature layer.
2. In the Select an option to create an empty feature layer, select Define your own layer.
3. In the Specify name and type, set the layer name and feature layer type.
4. At the minimum, provide values for title, tags, and summary.

Code examples

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            // After adding the feature, save it to your portal
            portal.load().then(() => {
              // Get the user's content
              const userContent = portal.user.content;

              // Add the feature layer as an item to ArcGIS Online
              userContent.add(layer).then((item) => {
                console.log("Feature layer added to ArcGIS Online:", item);
              });

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          userContent.add(featureLayer).then(function (item) {
            console.log("Feature layer added to ArcGIS portal:", item);
          });

          featureLayer
            .applyEdits({
              addFeatures: [
                {
                  geometry: geometry,
                },
              ],
            })
            .then(function () {
              console.log("Point feature added to feature layer.");
            });

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# Path to your CSV file
csv_file_path = r"path/to/your/csv/file.csv"

# Specify properties for the feature layer
item_properties = {
    "title": "My CSV Feature Layer",
    "tags": "csv, feature layer",
    "type": "CSV"
}

# Add the CSV file as an item to ArcGIS Online
csv_item = gis.content.add(item_properties, csv_file_path)

# Publish the CSV file as a feature layer
feature_layer_item = csv_item.publish(None)

# Share the feature layer with everyone (optional)
feature_layer_item.share(everyone=True)

Tutorials

Import data to create a feature layer

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

ArcGIS portal

Define a new feature layer

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

ArcGIS portalPython APIREST JS

Manage a feature layer

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

ArcGIS portal

Create a vector tile service

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

ArcGIS portalPython APIREST JS

Create a map tile service

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

ArcGIS portalPython APIREST JS

Services

API support

Tools

Use tools to access the portal and create and manage content for applications.