Add a point, line, and polygon

Learn how to display point, line, and polygon graphics in a map.

Graphics are visual elements used to display points, lines, polygons, and text in a map or scene. Graphics are composed of a geometry, symbol, and attributes, and can display a pop-up when clicked. You typically use graphics to display geographic data that is not connected to a database (i.e. a GPS location).

In this tutorial, you will learn how to display points, lines, and polygons on a map as graphics.

Prerequisites

You need an ArcGIS Developer or ArcGIS Online account to access the dashboard and create an API key.

Steps

Create a new pen

  1. To get started, either complete the Display a map tutorial or .

Set the API key

To access ArcGIS services, you need an API key.

  1. Go to your dashboard to get an API key.
  2. In CodePen, set the apiKey to your key, so it can be used to access basemap layer and location services.
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esriConfig.apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";
const map = new Map({
  basemap: "arcgis/topographic" // basemap styles service
});

Add modules

  1. In the require statement, add the Graphic and GraphicsLayer modules.

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      require([
        "esri/config",
        "esri/Map",
        "esri/views/MapView",
    
        "esri/Graphic",
        "esri/layers/GraphicsLayer"
    
        ], function(esriConfig,Map, MapView, Graphic, GraphicsLayer) {
    
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Add a graphics layer

A graphics layer is a container for graphics. It is used with a map view to display graphics on a map. You can add more than one graphics layer to a map view. Graphics layers are displayed on top of all other layers.

  1. Create and add a GraphicsLayer to store graphics.
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  const view = new MapView({
    map: map,
    center: [-118.80500,34.02700], //Longitude, latitude
    zoom: 13,
    container: "viewDiv"
 });

 const graphicsLayer = new GraphicsLayer();
 map.add(graphicsLayer);
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Add a point graphic

A point graphic is created using a point and a marker symbol. A point is defined with longitude (x) and latitude (y) coordinates, and a simple symbol is defined with a color and outline. The Point and SimpleMarkerSymbol classes are used to create the point graphic.

  1. Create a point and simpleMarkerSymbol that will be used to create a Graphic.
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 const graphicsLayer = new GraphicsLayer();
 map.add(graphicsLayer);

 const point = { //Create a point
    type: "point",
    longitude: -118.80657463861,
    latitude: 34.0005930608889
 };
 const simpleMarkerSymbol = {
    type: "simple-marker",
    color: [226, 119, 40],  // Orange
    outline: {
        color: [255, 255, 255], // White
        width: 1
    }
 };
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  1. Create a Graphic and set the geometry and symbol properties. The Graphic class will autocast point and simpleMarkerSymbol when it is constructed.

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     const point = { //Create a point
        type: "point",
        longitude: -118.80657463861,
        latitude: 34.0005930608889
     };
     const simpleMarkerSymbol = {
        type: "simple-marker",
        color: [226, 119, 40],  // Orange
        outline: {
            color: [255, 255, 255], // White
            width: 1
        }
     };
    
     const pointGraphic = new Graphic({
        geometry: point,
        symbol: simpleMarkerSymbol
     });
     graphicsLayer.add(pointGraphic);
    
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  2. Verify that the point graphic positioned at Point Dume Beach.

Add a line graphic

A line graphic is created using a polyline and a line symbol. A polyline is defined as a sequence of points and a spatial reference. The Polyline and SimpleLineSymbol classes are used to create a line graphic.

  1. Define the polyline and simpleLineSymbol that will be used to create a Graphic.

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     const pointGraphic = new Graphic({
        geometry: point,
        symbol: simpleMarkerSymbol
     });
     graphicsLayer.add(pointGraphic);
    
     // Create a line geometry
     const polyline = {
        type: "polyline",
        paths: [
            [-118.821527826096, 34.0139576938577], //Longitude, latitude
            [-118.814893761649, 34.0080602407843], //Longitude, latitude
            [-118.808878330345, 34.0016642996246]  //Longitude, latitude
        ]
     };
     const simpleLineSymbol = {
        type: "simple-line",
        color: [226, 119, 40], // Orange
        width: 2
     };
    
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  2. Create a Graphic and set the geometry and symbol properties. The Graphic class will autocast the polyline and simpleLineSymbol when it is created.

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     // Create a line geometry
     const polyline = {
        type: "polyline",
        paths: [
            [-118.821527826096, 34.0139576938577], //Longitude, latitude
            [-118.814893761649, 34.0080602407843], //Longitude, latitude
            [-118.808878330345, 34.0016642996246]  //Longitude, latitude
        ]
     };
     const simpleLineSymbol = {
        type: "simple-line",
        color: [226, 119, 40], // Orange
        width: 2
     };
    
     const polylineGraphic = new Graphic({
        geometry: polyline,
        symbol: simpleLineSymbol
     });
     graphicsLayer.add(polylineGraphic);
    
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  3. Verify that the line graphic positioned along Westward Beach.

Add a polygon graphic

A polygon graphic is created using a polygon and a fill symbol. A polygon is defined as a sequence of points (ring) that describe a closed boundary and a spatial reference. The Polygon and SimpleFillSymbol classes are used to create and display a polygon graphic.

  1. Define the polygon and simpleFillSymbol that will be used to create a Graphic

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     const polylineGraphic = new Graphic({
        geometry: polyline,
        symbol: simpleLineSymbol
     });
     graphicsLayer.add(polylineGraphic);
    
     // Create a polygon geometry
     const polygon = {
        type: "polygon",
        rings: [
            [-118.818984489994, 34.0137559967283], //Longitude, latitude
            [-118.806796597377, 34.0215816298725], //Longitude, latitude
            [-118.791432890735, 34.0163883241613], //Longitude, latitude
            [-118.79596686535, 34.008564864635],   //Longitude, latitude
            [-118.808558110679, 34.0035027131376]  //Longitude, latitude
        ]
     };
    
     const simpleFillSymbol = {
        type: "simple-fill",
        color: [227, 139, 79, 0.8],  // Orange, opacity 80%
        outline: {
            color: [255, 255, 255],
            width: 1
        }
     };
    
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  2. Create a Graphic and set the geometry and symbol properties. The Graphic class will autocast the polygon and simpleFillSymbol when it is created.

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     // Create a polygon geometry
     const polygon = {
        type: "polygon",
        rings: [
            [-118.818984489994, 34.0137559967283], //Longitude, latitude
            [-118.806796597377, 34.0215816298725], //Longitude, latitude
            [-118.791432890735, 34.0163883241613], //Longitude, latitude
            [-118.79596686535, 34.008564864635],   //Longitude, latitude
            [-118.808558110679, 34.0035027131376]  //Longitude, latitude
        ]
     };
    
     const simpleFillSymbol = {
        type: "simple-fill",
        color: [227, 139, 79, 0.8],  // Orange, opacity 80%
        outline: {
            color: [255, 255, 255],
            width: 1
        }
     };
    
     const polygonGraphic = new Graphic({
        geometry: polygon,
        symbol: simpleFillSymbol,
    
     });
     graphicsLayer.add(polygonGraphic);
    
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  3. Verify that the polygon graphic positioned on Mahou Riviera.

Create a pop-up

You can display a pop-up for a graphic when it is clicked. The code that creates the polygon graphic to show a pop-up containing the name and description of the graphic uses the attribute and popupTemplate properties.

  1. In the main function, define the popupTemplate and attributes.

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     const simpleFillSymbol = {
        type: "simple-fill",
        color: [227, 139, 79, 0.8],  // Orange, opacity 80%
        outline: {
            color: [255, 255, 255],
            width: 1
        }
     };
    
     const popupTemplate = {
        title: "{Name}",
        content: "{Description}"
     }
     const attributes = {
        Name: "Graphic",
        Description: "I am a polygon"
     }
    
    Expand
  2. Update the polygonGraphic to include the popupTemplate and attribute properties.

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     const polygonGraphic = new Graphic({
        geometry: polygon,
        symbol: simpleFillSymbol,
    
        attributes: attributes,
        popupTemplate: popupTemplate
    
     });
     graphicsLayer.add(polygonGraphic);
    
    Expand

Run the app

In CodePen, run your code to display the map.

The map should display all three graphics. When you click on the polygon, it should show a pop-up.

What's next?

Learn how to use additional API features and ArcGIS services in these tutorials:

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