Introduction to feature analysis | Documentation

Feature analysis overview showing server-side operations on hosted feature layers.

What is feature analysis?

Feature analysis is the process of using the feature analysis serviceA spatial analysis service, also known as a feature analysis service, is a service used to perform spatial analysis operations on feature data such as finding, comparing, summarizing, analyzing patterns, and calculating geometries.Learn more to perform server-side geometric and analytic operations on feature dataFeature data is a general term for one or more features, which are records that represent real-world geographic entities, stored as a feature collection, feature layer, or hosted feature layer.Learn more. To access the service, you can use ArcGIS toolsTools, also known as developer tools, are ArcGIS software applications such as portal and ArcGIS Pro that developers can use to prepare content and data for custom applications they are building.Learn more or APIsAn ArcGIS API is a web, native, game engine, or scripting API that has advanced mapping and spatial analysis capabilities and can be used to access ArcGIS services. ArcGIS APIs are designed to work optimally with the ArcGIS system and provide the most advanced GIS features and the highest performance possible.Learn more to execute different types of analyses. For example, you can find features, merge or overlay features, calculate feature statistics, or find patterns and relationships in feature data. The operation you use depends on the type of problem you are trying to solve.

Feature analysis can help solve many different types of problems. For example, you can use it to:

Understand where features are or where multiple features exist.
Measure sizes, shapes, and distributions of features.
Analyze relationships and interactions between features.
Detect and quantify patterns and relationships between features.
Make predictions based on existing or theoretical patterns and relationships.

To learn more about spatial analysis concepts and use cases, go to the following resources:

To perform feature analysis, you typically provide your feature dataFeature data is a general term for one or more features, which are records that represent real-world geographic entities, stored as a feature collection, feature layer, or hosted feature layer.Learn more as input, execute a service operation, and then visualize and evaluate the results in a map. The feature data can be any collection of featuresA feature is a single record, also known as a row, that represents a real-world entity. It typically contains a geometry (point, multipoint, polyline, or polygon) and attributes but it can also contain just attributes.Learn more that have a common type of geometryA geometry is a geometric shape, such as a point, polyline, or polygon, that contains one or more coordinates and a spatial reference.Learn more and set of attributesAttributes are fields and values for a single feature or non-spatial record. They are typically stored in a database or service such as a feature service.Learn more. Learn more about data input requirements in How to perform feature analysis.

How to access the spatial analysis service

You can access a spatial analysis service if 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 has the required privileges. To get your analysis service URL, make a /self request to your portal. The response returns a unique spatial analysis service URL for your portal.

To use this URL, you must be able to create an access tokenAn access token is an authorization string that provides access to secure ArcGIS content, data, and services. Its capabilities are determined by the privileges it supports. It is obtained by implementing API key authentication, User authentication, or App authentication.Learn more with the following privileges:

Spatial analysis > Feature analysis (premium:user:spatialanalysis)
Content > Create, update and delete (portal:user:createItem)
Content > Publish hosted feature layers (portal:publisher:publishFeatures)

To learn more, go to Security and Authentication guide > Privileges.

Request

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https://www.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/portals/self?f=json&token={ACCESS_TOKEN}

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{
  "helperServices": {
    // Other parameters...
    "analysis": {
      "url": "https://{YOUR_ANALYSIS_SERVICE}/arcgis/rest/services/tasks/GPServer"
    }
  }
}

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https://www.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/portals/self?f=json&token={ACCESS_TOKEN}

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{
  "helperServices": {
    // Other parameters...
    "analysis": {
      "url": "https://{YOUR_ANALYSIS_SERVICE}/arcgis/rest/services/tasks/GPServer"
    }
  }
}

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https://{HOST}/{WEBADAPTOR_NAME}/sharing/rest/portals/self?f=json&token={ACCESS_TOKEN}

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{
  "helperServices": {
    // Other parameters...
    "analysis": {
      "url": "https://{YOUR_ANALYSIS_SERVICE}/{WEBADAPTOR_NAME}/rest/services/System/SpatialAnalysisTools/GPServer"
    }
}

Types of feature analysis

Feature analysis operations for the feature analysis serviceA spatial analysis service, also known as a feature analysis service, is a service used to perform spatial analysis operations on feature data such as finding, comparing, summarizing, analyzing patterns, and calculating geometries.Learn more are grouped by the type of problems they solve and the type of feature dataFeature data is a general term for one or more features, which are records that represent real-world geographic entities, stored as a feature collection, feature layer, or hosted feature layer.Learn more returned.

To learn more, click on the categories below:

Category	Description	Operations	Result	Example
Find data	Selects a subset of featuresA feature is a single record, also known as a row, that represents a real-world entity. It typically contains a geometry (point, multipoint, polyline, or polygon) and attributes but it can also contain just attributes.Learn more using a SQL or spatial query.	`FindExistingLocations`, `DeriveNewLocations`, `ExtractFeatures`	A new feature collectionA feature collection is a data structure containing one or more features that share the same geometry type and set of attributes.Learn more or hosted feature layerA hosted feature layer is a hosted layer (item) in a portal that is used to manage the properties and settings of a spatially-enabled feature layer in a feature service.Learn more.	Finds existing polygons that match a SQL query.
Combine data	Combines or joins features from two or more feature datasetsFeature data is a general term for one or more features, which are records that represent real-world geographic entities, stored as a feature collection, feature layer, or hosted feature layer.Learn more.	`Merge`, `Overlay`, `Join`, `Dissolve`	A new feature collectionA feature collection is a data structure containing one or more features that share the same geometry type and set of attributes.Learn more or hosted feature layerA hosted feature layer is a hosted layer (item) in a portal that is used to manage the properties and settings of a spatially-enabled feature layer in a feature service.Learn more.	Dissolves polygons from two input feature datasets.
Summarize data	Aggregates or summarizes feature dataFeature data is a general term for one or more features, which are records that represent real-world geographic entities, stored as a feature collection, feature layer, or hosted feature layer.Learn more and creates statistics.	`Aggregate points`, `Summarize nearby`, `Summarize within`, `Summarize center and dispersion`	A new feature collectionA feature collection is a data structure containing one or more features that share the same geometry type and set of attributes.Learn more or hosted feature layerA hosted feature layer is a hosted layer (item) in a portal that is used to manage the properties and settings of a spatially-enabled feature layer in a feature service.Learn more.	Aggregate points into polygons.
Analyze patterns	Identifies spatial patterns and relationships in feature dataFeature data is a general term for one or more features, which are records that represent real-world geographic entities, stored as a feature collection, feature layer, or hosted feature layer.Learn more.	`Find hot spots`, `Find outliers`, `Find point clusters`, `Calculate density`, `Interpolate points`, `Calculate composite index`	A new feature collectionA feature collection is a data structure containing one or more features that share the same geometry type and set of attributes.Learn more or hosted feature layerA hosted feature layer is a hosted layer (item) in a portal that is used to manage the properties and settings of a spatially-enabled feature layer in a feature service.Learn more.	Find hot spots based on attribute values
Calculate geometries	Performs geometric calculations on existing featuresA feature is a single record, also known as a row, that represents a real-world entity. It typically contains a geometry (point, multipoint, polyline, or polygon) and attributes but it can also contain just attributes.Learn more or can create new feature dataFeature data is a general term for one or more features, which are records that represent real-world geographic entities, stored as a feature collection, feature layer, or hosted feature layer.Learn more.	`Create buffers`, `Create centroids`, `Generate tessellations`,	A new feature collectionA feature collection is a data structure containing one or more features that share the same geometry type and set of attributes.Learn more or hosted feature layerA hosted feature layer is a hosted layer (item) in a portal that is used to manage the properties and settings of a spatially-enabled feature layer in a feature service.Learn more.	Generate and merge buffers around features.

Why use feature analysis?

You use feature analysis when you want to perform a server-side process on feature data. Feature data contains a collection of features, and each feature contains a geometry and set of attributes. This is different from geometry analysis which only involves processing geometries on the client-side. To see a comparison, go to Geometry vs feature analysis.

Below are reasons to use feature analysis and the feature analysis serviceA spatial analysis service, also known as a feature analysis service, is a service used to perform spatial analysis operations on feature data such as finding, comparing, summarizing, analyzing patterns, and calculating geometries.Learn more:

Large datasets

The feature analysis serviceA spatial analysis service, also known as a feature analysis service, is a service used to perform spatial analysis operations on feature data such as finding, comparing, summarizing, analyzing patterns, and calculating geometries.Learn more is designed to process large amounts of feature dataFeature data is a general term for one or more features, which are records that represent real-world geographic entities, stored as a feature collection, feature layer, or hosted feature layer.Learn more. You can use the service to process thousands of featuresA feature is a single record, also known as a row, that represents a real-world entity. It typically contains a geometry (point, multipoint, polyline, or polygon) and attributes but it can also contain just attributes.Learn more stored in a hosted feature layerA hosted feature layer is a hosted layer (item) in a portal that is used to manage the properties and settings of a spatially-enabled feature layer in a feature service.Learn more or formatted as a feature collection (JSON). All of the processing occurs in the ArcGIS cloud infrastructure and is optimized for your organizationAn organization a list of members from the same business, association, or entity who can sign in, access tools and applications, and collaborate with other members in a portal. All members have an ArcGIS account and are approved by an administrator to access the same portal.Learn more.

Learn more about supported data formats in Prepare feature data.

Hosted data

To perform an analysis, you can use a hosted feature layerA hosted feature layer is a hosted layer (item) in a portal that is used to manage the properties and settings of a spatially-enabled feature layer in a feature service.Learn more as input for the service operation. Using a hosted feature layer is the preferred way to perform an analysis on large datasets because the feature analysis serviceA spatial analysis service, also known as a feature analysis service, is a service used to perform spatial analysis operations on feature data such as finding, comparing, summarizing, analyzing patterns, and calculating geometries.Learn more can easily access the data and execute calculations in the ArcGIS cloud. The results of an operation can also be stored in ArcGIS as a hosted feature layer. This makes it easy to manage and access the results after an operation is complete.

Learn more about how to use hosted feature layers in Data hosting.

Long transactions

To help with processing large amounts of feature data, the feature analysis service supports job requestsA job request is an HTTPS request to a service that starts a server-side operation (or job) with a long duration.Learn more. These are asynchronous requests that make it easier to manage long transactions that are computationally intensive and have long durations.

Learn more about managing job requests in Perform the analysis - ArcGIS REST API.

Manage results

When an analysis is complete, the feature analysis serviceA spatial analysis service, also known as a feature analysis service, is a service used to perform spatial analysis operations on feature data such as finding, comparing, summarizing, analyzing patterns, and calculating geometries.Learn more can return the results as a hosted feature layerA hosted feature layer is a hosted layer (item) in a portal that is used to manage the properties and settings of a spatially-enabled feature layer in a feature service.Learn more which is automatically stored in ArcGIS. Each feature layer has an item pageAn item page is a web page in ArcGIS Online or the developer dashboard used to access and manage the properties for an item and the content it references such as a web map, hosted layer, or file.Learn more that you can use to interactively manage the access permissions of the data. Storing the results as a hosted feature layer also makes it easy to access with ArcGIS toolsTools, also known as developer tools, are ArcGIS software applications such as portal and ArcGIS Pro that developers can use to prepare content and data for custom applications they are building.Learn more and APIsAn ArcGIS API is a web, native, game engine, or scripting API that has advanced mapping and spatial analysis capabilities and can be used to access ArcGIS services. ArcGIS APIs are designed to work optimally with the ArcGIS system and provide the most advanced GIS features and the highest performance possible.Learn more for further visual analyses and evaluation.

Learn more about accessing and managing hosted feature layers in Data hosting.

APIs

To access the analysis service there are a number of ArcGIS APIs you can use. This includes the ArcGIS API for Python, ArcGIS REST JS, and ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript. Client APIs make it easy to implement authentication, access the service, and manage the job requests for each transaction. You can also access the service directly with the ArcGIS REST API.

To learn how to access the feature analysis serviceA spatial analysis service, also known as a feature analysis service, is a service used to perform spatial analysis operations on feature data such as finding, comparing, summarizing, analyzing patterns, and calculating geometries.Learn more with APIs, go to How to perform a feature analysis.

Software and tools

You can also perform feature analyses interactively with ArcGIS tools such as Map ViewerMap Viewer is a browser-based mapping tool that can view, create, and save web maps. It can also perform mapping, visualization, and spatial analysis operations.Learn more and ArcGIS ProArcGIS Pro is a professional desktop GIS application that can explore, visualize, analyze, and manage 2D and 3D data.Learn more. These tools provide an interface to access the feature analysis service and execute different operations. As a developer, using these tools is a helpful way to learn about the different types of operations you can perform, the different parameters that can be used, and how changing the parameters affects the analysis results.

Limitations

Tutorials

Three large cards showing three ArcGIS data sources: a green Living Atlas icon, a purple ArcGIS Online icon, and a blue ArcGIS Hub icon.

Find data sources

Discover data in ArcGIS that you can use for feature analysis.

ArcGIS Online ArcGIS Living Atlas ArcGIS Hub

A light gray map of Atlanta with a legend panel describing blue markers for stores and orange markers for restaurants.

Create data sources

Import, create, and generate data for feature analysis.

ArcGIS portal

Enrich Layer tool with U.S. block groups selected, variables for total, female, and male population listed, and multicolored census polygons displayed.

Enrich data sources

Enrich data with demographic information and local business facts using the spatial analysis service.

Map Viewer Python API REST JS REST API

A human geography map of San Francisco with dense point data and highlighted analysis clusters in red and orange, alongside a side panel with controls to run analysis, clear results, and toggle pre-calculated results.

Perform a feature analysis

Perform a feature analysis using ArcGIS REST JS.

Leaflet MapLibre GL JS OpenLayers REST JS REST API

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Find and extract data

Find data with attribute and spatial queries using find analysis operations.

Map Viewer Python API REST JS REST API

A choropleth map of San Francisco census blocks shaded by average home value, with a five-class color ramp from light yellow to dark red and a legend showing value ranges from 200,000 up to over 2,000,000.

Combine data

Overlay, join, and dissolve features using combine analysis operations.

Map Viewer Python API REST JS REST API

A dark gray map of San Francisco with census blocks shaded from light blue to purple to show aggregated graffiti incident counts, with a legend for count ranges and selected analysis area.

Summarize data

Aggregate and summarize featuresA feature is a single record, also known as a row, that represents a real-world entity. It typically contains a geometry (point, multipoint, polyline, or polygon) and attributes but it can also contain just attributes.Learn more using summarize analysis operations.

Map Viewer Python API REST JS REST API

A dark gray map of San Francisco with hexagon bins colored by parking-violation hot and cold spot significance, showing red hot spots in the Richmond and Mission areas and blue cold spots in the Sunset district.

Discover patterns in data

Find patterns and trends in data using spatial analysis operations.

Map Viewer Python API REST JS REST API

Services

Spatial analysis service

Process spatial datasets to discover relationships and patterns.

API support

	Find data	Combine data	Summarize data	Analyze patterns	Calculate geometries
ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
ArcGIS Maps SDK for .NET
ArcGIS Maps SDK for Kotlin
ArcGIS Maps SDK for Swift
ArcGIS Maps SDK for Flutter
ArcGIS Maps SDK for Java
ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt
ArcGIS API for Python
ArcGIS REST JS	¹	¹	¹	¹	¹
Leaflet	²	²	²	²	¹
MapLibre GL JS	²	²	²	²	¹
OpenLayers	²	²	²	²	¹

Full supportPartial supportNo support

1. Access with geoprocessing task
2. Access via ArcGIS REST JS

Tools

Portal

Create, manage, and access content and data services for applications.

Map Viewer

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

ArcGIS Pro

Create, style, and explore maps and scenes.