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Data

Hosted data services provide a way to store, manage, and access your own geographic data for maps. You can store data in ArcGIS as features, vector tiles, and/or map tiles.

Feature data

A feature service allows you to store, access, and manage collections of features. Each collection is known as feature layer. You can access features in a feature layer with a SQL and/or spatial query. Features can be returned in JSON, GeoJSON, PBF, and other formats. To create a feature service, you import data with the ArcGIS portal. You also use the portal to set the service capabilities, support for editing, access and security, and cache settings.

Steps
  1. Use ArcGIS portal to import your data and create a feature service and feature layer.
  2. Add the feature layer to a map with the MapLibre ArcGIS plugin. Use the service URL or item ID.
  3. Optionally, use a SQL and/or spatial query to select a subset of features. See the how-to or tutorials.

How to create and add features

Learn how to use the ArcGIS portal to import a GeoJSON point dataset to create a feature service. This example visualizes U.S. city population data as clustered points on a basemap. The features are accessed and displayed on a map with the FeatureLayer class in the MapLibre ArcGIS plugin.

Create and style features in a map.
Go to how-to

Tutorials

Vector tile data

A vector tile service allows you to store and style your vector tile data in ArcGIS. Vector tiles layers support the Mapbox Style specification and can be styled with the Vector Tile Style editor. Vector tile services and layers are created from feature services by using ArcGIS portal tools. You can also use the portal to set the security and caching settings.

Steps
  1. Use ArcGIS portal to import your data and create a feature service (and feature layer).
  2. Publish a vector tile layer from the feature layer.
  3. Optionally, style the vector tile layer.
  4. Add the vector tile layer to a map with the MapLibre ArcGIS plugin. Use the item ID. See the how-to or the tutorials.

How to create and style vector tiles

Learn how to use the ArcGIS portal to import a polygon dataset to create a vector tile service. This example uses a USA states dataset with population attributes. The polygons are pre-styled using a class breaks renderer and then post-styled with the Vector Tile Style Editor. The vector tiles are accessed and displayed on a map with the VectorTileLayer class provided in the MapLibre ArcGIS plugin.

Create and style a hosted vector tile layer.
Go to how-to

Tutorials

Map tile data

A map tile service provides access to pre-rendered image tiles (raster tiles) that represent a snapshot of feature data. Map tile services are created from feature services by using ArcGIS portal. You can also use the portal to control the service security, tile scales, and caching settings.

Steps
  1. Use ArcGIS portal to import your data and create a feature service (and feature layer).
  2. Style the feature layer.
  3. Publish a map tile layer from the feature layer.
  4. Add the layer to your map as a new raster data source.

Display a map tile layer

Learn how to add a contour map tile layer on top of a basemap.

Go to tutorial

More resources

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