Introduction to geometry analysis

One of the most common types of analysis is geometry analysis.

What is geometry analysis?

Geometry analysis is the process of using a client-side APIAn 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 perform one or more operations on a pointA point is a type of geometry containing a single set of x,y coordinates and a spatial reference.Learn more, polylineA polyline is a type of geometry containing ordered point coordinates and a spatial reference.Learn more, or polygonA polygon is a type of geometry containing an array of rings and a spatial reference. Each ring contains an array of point coordinates, where the first and last point are the same.Learn more to solve a geometric problem. You can use geometry operations to determine the spatial relationship between geometries, perform calculations such as creating a buffer, measure distance and area, and project geometries. The operation you use depends on the type of problem you are trying to solve.

Types of geometry operations

Geometry operations are grouped based on the type of calculation they perform and value returned.

To learn more, click on the categories below:

Category	Description	Operations	Result	Example
Spatial relationship	Determine the relationship between geometries.	contains, disjoint, intersects, overlaps, touches, within	boolean	Determine the intersection of two geometries with intersects.
Geometric calculation	Calculate and create new geometries from an existing geometries.	boundary, buffer, clip, convexHull, cut, densify, difference, extent, generalize, intersect, nearestCoordinate, nearestVertex, offset, relate, reshape, simplify, trim, union	geometry	Buffer a line at 10 meters with buffer.
Length and area	Measure length, area, or distance.	area, distance, length	number	Calculate the geodesic length of a line with length.
Projection	Project to a new spatial reference.	project	geometry	Project a geometry to a new spatial reference with project.

Tutorials

Find spatial relationships

Determine the spatial relationship between two geometries.

JavaScript Maps SDK

Calculate geometries

Perform buffer, intersect, union, and other geometric operations.

JavaScript Maps SDK

Find length and area

Get the length of a line and the area of a polygon.

JavaScript Maps SDKKotlin Maps SDK

Display projected geometries

Project geometries to a new spatial reference in a map.

JavaScript Maps SDK

API support

Tools