Query a feature layer (spatial)

Learn how to execute a spatial query to access polygon from a .

Execute a spatial query using API key authentication

A can contain a large number of stored in . To access a subset of these features, you can execute an SQL or spatial query, either together or individually. The results can contain the , , or both for each record. SQL and spatial queries are useful when a feature layer is very large and you want to access only a subset of its data.

In this tutorial, you sketch a on the map and use ArcGIS REST JS to perform a spatial query against the LA County Parcels . The layer contains ±2.4 million features. The spatial query returns all of the parcels that intersect the sketched feature. A pop-up is also used to display feature attributes.

Prerequisites

Steps

Get the starter app

Select a type of authentication below and follow the steps to create a new application.

You can choose one of the following to create a new CodePen:

  • Option 1: Complete the Display a map tutorial; or,
  • Option 2: Start from the Display a map tutorial .

Set up authentication

Create in your for the type of authentication you selected.

Create a new with to access the resources used in this tutorial.

  1. Go to the Create an API key tutorial and create an with the following :
    • Privileges
      • Location services > Basemaps
    • Item access
      • Note: If you are using your own custom data layer for this tutorial, you need to grant the access to the layer item. Learn more in Item access privileges.
  2. When prompted, copy and paste the API key to a safe location. It will be used in the next step.

Set developer credentials

Use the API key or OAuth so your application can access .

  1. Update the accessToken variable to use your API key.

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      <script>
    
        /* Use for API key authentication */
        const accessToken = "YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN";
    
        const map = L.map("map", {
          minZoom: 2
        })
    
        map.setView([34.02, -118.805], 13);
    
        const basemapEnum = "arcgis/streets";
    
        L.esri.Vector.vectorBasemapLayer(basemapEnum, {
          token: accessToken
        }).addTo(map);
    
      </script>
    

Add script references

In addition to Leaflet and Esri Leaflet, reference the Leaflet Geoman plugin. The plugin allows you to create , , and graphics on the map.

  1. Add <script> and <link> tags to reference the libraries.

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      <!-- Load Leaflet from CDN -->
      <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://unpkg.com/leaflet@1.9.4/dist/leaflet.css" crossorigin="" />
      <script src="https://unpkg.com/leaflet@1.9.4/dist/leaflet.js" crossorigin=""></script>
    
      <!-- Load Esri Leaflet from CDN -->
      <script src="https://unpkg.com/esri-leaflet@3.0.14/dist/esri-leaflet.js"></script>
      <script src="https://unpkg.com/esri-leaflet-vector@4.2.7/dist/esri-leaflet-vector.js"></script>
    
      <!-- Load Leaflet Geoman from CDN -->
      <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://unpkg.com/@geoman-io/leaflet-geoman-free@latest/dist/leaflet-geoman.css" />
      <script src="https://unpkg.com/@geoman-io/leaflet-geoman-free@latest/dist/leaflet-geoman.min.js"></script>
    
    Expand

Add the parcels layer

Use the FeatureLayer class to perform a query against the LA County Parcels . Since you are performing a server-side query, you can hide the features.

  1. Create a FeatureLayer object with the LA County Parcels hosted feature layer as its source.

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        L.esri.Vector.vectorBasemapLayer(basemapEnum, {
          token: accessToken
        }).addTo(map);
    
        var parcels = L.esri
          .featureLayer({
            url: "https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/LA_County_Parcels/FeatureServer/0",
            simplifyFactor: 0.5,
            precision: 4,
    
          })
          .addTo(map);
    
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  2. Hide all features in the layer using a .

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        var parcels = L.esri
          .featureLayer({
            url: "https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/LA_County_Parcels/FeatureServer/0",
            simplifyFactor: 0.5,
            precision: 4,
    
            where: "1 = 0" // Hide the feature layer until queried
    
          })
          .addTo(map);
    
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Set up the Geoman toolbar

You can use the Leaflet Geoman toolbar to create point, line, and polygon geometries via a user interface.

  1. Add map.pm.addControls to create the Geoman toolbar. Hide all buttons except for drawMarker, drawPolyline, and drawPolygon.

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        var parcels = L.esri
          .featureLayer({
            url: "https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/LA_County_Parcels/FeatureServer/0",
            simplifyFactor: 0.5,
            precision: 4,
    
            where: "1 = 0" // Hide the feature layer until queried
    
          })
          .addTo(map);
    
        map.pm.addControls({
          position: 'topleft',
          // Customize the visible tools
          editControls: false,
          drawRectangle: false,
          drawCircle: false,
          drawCircleMarker: false,
          drawText: false
        });
    
    
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  2. Set map.pm.setGlobalOptions to define the style properties for the drawn geometries.

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        map.pm.addControls({
          position: 'topleft',
          // Customize the visible tools
          editControls: false,
          drawRectangle: false,
          drawCircle: false,
          drawCircleMarker: false,
          drawText: false
        });
    
        map.pm.setGlobalOptions({
          pathOptions: {
            weight: 2,
            color: "#4d4d4d",
            fillColor: "#808080",
            fillOpacity: 0.2,
            dashArray: [4, 4]
          }
        });
    
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  3. Click Run at the top right to test your code. You should be able to sketch a point, line, or polygon.

Get the drawn feature

Leaflet Geoman emits a pm:create event when you have finished sketching a feature. You can listen to this event to respond to the newly created feature.

  1. Add an event handler for the pm:create event. Format its output to access the new layer object.

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        map.pm.setGlobalOptions({
          pathOptions: {
            weight: 2,
            color: "#4d4d4d",
            fillColor: "#808080",
            fillOpacity: 0.2,
            dashArray: [4, 4]
          }
        });
    
        map.on("pm:create", ({ shape, layer }) => {
    
        });
    
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  2. Remove the previousLayer with the remove method. Set previousLayer to the newly drawn layer.

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        var previousLayer;
    
        map.on("pm:create", ({ shape, layer }) => {
    
          if (previousLayer) {
            previousLayer.remove();
          }
          previousLayer = layer;
    
        });
    
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Run the query

Use the FeatureLayer.query method to find features in the LA County Parcels feature layer that intersect the sketched geometry.

  1. Convert the sketched feature into GeoJSON to access its geometry. Create a query on the parcels layer that returns all parcels intersecting the sketched geometry.

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        var previousLayer;
    
        map.on("pm:create", ({ shape, layer }) => {
    
          if (previousLayer) {
            previousLayer.remove();
          }
          previousLayer = layer;
    
          var feature = layer.toGeoJSON();
          parcels
            .query()
            .intersects(feature.geometry)
            .limit(2000)
    
        });
    
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  2. Return the feature ids. Display the results with the setWhere method.

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          var feature = layer.toGeoJSON();
          parcels
            .query()
            .intersects(feature.geometry)
            .limit(2000)
    
            .ids(function (error, queryResult) {
              parcels.setWhere("OBJECTID IN (" + queryResult.join(",") + ")");
            });
    
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  3. Create a pop-up using bindPopup. Set its contents dynamically based on the currently clicked feature.

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          var feature = layer.toGeoJSON();
          parcels
            .query()
            .intersects(feature.geometry)
            .limit(2000)
    
            .ids(function (error, queryResult) {
              parcels.setWhere("OBJECTID IN (" + queryResult.join(",") + ")");
            });
    
        });
    
        parcels.bindPopup(function (layer) {
          return L.Util.template("<b>Parcel {APN}</b>" + "Type: {UseType} <br>" + "Tax Rate City: {TaxRateCity}", layer.feature.properties);
        });
    
    Expand

Run the app

Run the app.

When you click on the map to draw a , a spatial query will run against the and display all land parcels that intersect the boundary of the . You can click on a parcel to see a pop-up with information about the parcel.

What's next?

Learn how to use additional ArcGIS location services in these tutorials:

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You can no longer sign into this site. Go to your ArcGIS portal or the ArcGIS Location Platform dashboard to perform management tasks.

Your ArcGIS portal

Create, manage, and access API keys and OAuth 2.0 developer credentials, hosted layers, and data services.

Your ArcGIS Location Platform dashboard

Manage billing, monitor service usage, and access additional resources.

Learn more about these changes in the What's new in Esri Developers June 2024 blog post.

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