Add a feature layer as GeoJSON

Learn how to add features as GeoJSON to a map.

A feature layer is a dataset in a hosted feature service. Each feature layer contains features with a single geometry type (point, line, or polygon), and a set of attributes. You can access and display features by making query requests to the feature service and displaying them in a map.

In this tutorial, you access the Trailheads feature layer to get GeoJSON and display the features as clusters. Working with GeoJSON is often useful for dynamically generated data, but not suitable for large datasets.

Prerequisites

Steps

Create a new pen

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

Set the API key

To access location services, you need an API key or OAuth 2.0 access token. To learn how to create and scope your key, visit the Create an API key tutorial.

1. Go to your dashboard to get an API key. The API key must be scoped to access the services used in this tutorial.

2. In CodePen, update apiKey to use your key.

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   const apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";
   const basemapEnum = "ArcGIS:Streets";
   const map = new maplibregl.Map({
     container: "map", // the id of the div element
     style: `https://basemaps-api.arcgis.com/arcgis/rest/services/styles/${basemapEnum}?type=style&token=${apiKey}`,
     zoom: 12, // starting zoom
     center: [-118.805, 34.027] // starting location [longitude, latitude]
   });

Add a load event handler

You need to wait for the map to be completely loaded before adding any layers.

1. Add an event handler to the map load event.

   More info

   For more information about the load event, see the MapLibre GL JS documentation.

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       <script>
         const apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";
         const basemapEnum = "ArcGIS:Streets";
         const map = new maplibregl.Map({
           container: "map", // the id of the div element
           style: `https://basemaps-api.arcgis.com/arcgis/rest/services/styles/${basemapEnum}?type=style&token=${apiKey}`,
           zoom: 12, // starting zoom
           center: [-118.805, 34.027] // starting location [longitude, latitude]
         });
   
         map.once("load", () => {
           // This code runs once the base style has finished loading.
   
         });
   
       </script>
   

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Add a GeoJSON source

To add GeoJSON from a feature service, you need to define a source of type geojson and reference the feature layer. The source tells MapLibre GL JS how to access the data for the layer, but does not visually add it to the map. To get GeoJSON features from a feature layer, you provide a URL to query the feature service and return features in GeoJSON format. Features can then be displayed by adding the source to a layer.

1. Inside the load event handler, add a source. Set the id to trailheads and type to geojson. Set data to the URL for the trailheads feature layer. Append query?f=pgeojson&where=1=1 to the URL to request all of the features as GeoJSON.

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         map.once("load", () => {
           // This code runs once the base style has finished loading.
   
           map.addSource("trailheads", {
             type: "geojson",
             data: "https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Trailheads/FeatureServer/0/query?f=pgeojson&where=1=1",
   
           });
   
         });
   

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Add a circle layer

A layer in MapLibre GL JS is a visual representation of the data within one source. Use a layer of type circle to display the trailheads.

1. Use addLayer to add a circle layer with id trailheads-circle. Set source to trailheads to reference the source you just created. Add paint properties to make the circles black.

   More info

   The type property defines how it will be displayed. Commonly used layer types include circle, line, fill and symbol (used for text and icons).

   The id property is an identifier you choose. You will need it if you want to manipulate the layer, such as hiding it or changing its properties dynamically.

   The source property references the id property of the source you just created.

   The paint properties control the visual attributes of the layer and are specific to the type of layer.

   For more information, see the MapLibre Style Specification.

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         map.once("load", () => {
           // This code runs once the base style has finished loading.
   
           map.addSource("trailheads", {
             type: "geojson",
             data: "https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Trailheads/FeatureServer/0/query?f=pgeojson&where=1=1",
   
           });
   
           map.addLayer({
             id: "trailheads-circle",
             type: "circle",
             source: "trailheads",
   
             paint: {
               "circle-color": "hsla(0,0%,0%,0.75)",
               "circle-stroke-width": 1.5,
               "circle-stroke-color": "white",
   
             }
           });
   
         });
   

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2. At the top right, click Run to display the basemap with trailheads as black dots.

Use clusters to display points

One benefit of using GeoJSON to load points in MapLibre GL JS is you can use clustering. This technique replaces a number of overlapping points with a single point that represents the cluster. It simplifies the visual appearance of the map by reducing detail, particularly at lower zoom levels.

To enable clustering, you pass additional parameters when defining the source: cluster: true and the optional parameters clusterRadius and clusterMaxZoom.

Points that represent clusters have a cluster property that is set to true. You can use this in your trailheads-circle layer to make those points larger, by using a data-driven expression for circle-radius. You use the case and get expressions for this.

They also have a point_count attribute which contains the number of points in the cluster. You can display this as a text label, using a symbol layer.

1. Add cluster, clusterRadius and clusterMaxZoom attributes to the definition of the trailheads source.

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           map.addSource("trailheads", {
             type: "geojson",
             data: "https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Trailheads/FeatureServer/0/query?f=pgeojson&where=1=1",
   
             cluster: true,
             clusterRadius: 20, // cluster two trailheads if less than 20 pixels apart
             clusterMaxZoom: 14 // display all trailheads individually from zoom 14 up
   
           });
   

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2. Make each point larger if it represents a cluster.

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           map.addLayer({
             id: "trailheads-circle",
             type: "circle",
             source: "trailheads",
   
             paint: {
               "circle-color": "hsla(0,0%,0%,0.75)",
               "circle-stroke-width": 1.5,
               "circle-stroke-color": "white",
   
               "circle-radius": ["case", ["get", "cluster"], 10, 5] // 10 pixels for clusters, 5 pixels otherwise
   
             }
           });
   

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3. Add a symbol layer, trailheads-cluster-count. Use the attribute point_count as the value for text-field.

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             paint: {
               "circle-color": "hsla(0,0%,0%,0.75)",
               "circle-stroke-width": 1.5,
               "circle-stroke-color": "white",
   
               "circle-radius": ["case", ["get", "cluster"], 10, 5] // 10 pixels for clusters, 5 pixels otherwise
   
             }
           });
   
           map.addLayer({
             id: "trailheads-cluster-count",
             type: "symbol",
             source: "trailheads",
             layout: {
               "text-font": ["Arial Bold"],
               "text-field": ["get", "point_count"],
               "text-offset": [0, 0.1] // move the label vertically downwards slightly to improve centering
             },
             paint: {
               "text-color": "white"
             }
           });
   

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Run the app

In CodePen, run your code to display the map.

The map should display the trailheads as clusters with a number on a large circle. Zoom in to see the clusters split into smaller clusters, and eventually split into single trailhead features.

What's next?

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

Query a feature layer (SQL)

Execute a SQL query to access polygon features from a feature layer.

Query a feature layer (spatial)

Execute a spatial query to access polygon features from a feature service.

Style a feature layer

Use data-driven styling to apply symbol colors and styles to feature layers.

Display a pop-up

Display feature attributes in a popup.