Summary
See below for brief introductions to some new features introduced with the ArcGIS Python API 2.4.3 release. Also, checkout the What's new in ArcGIS API for Python 2.4.3 blog for additional areas updated in the API. For a comprehensive list of changes since the 2.4.2 release, visit the Release Notes for 2.4.3 document.
Dependency Management changes
The 2.4.3 Release upgraded some major dependencies within the arcgis package:
- Pandas 3.x
- NumPy 2.3.x
- Python 3.14
These upgrades provide substantial performance improvements in backend processing. The latest Pandas release improves memory efficiency and performance and enhances the integration with PyArrow for faster operations. An updated Numpy release greatly improves speed on fundamental operations such as sorting and identification of unique components. These changes are transparent to Python developers and scripters - just continue writing your code as is with the 2.4.3 release, but alterations behind the scenes will contribute to better overall performance.
Primary Python Support is for version 3.13. Secondary support is provided for Python 3.10, 3.11, 3.12, and 3.14.
Introducing the arcgis.ai module to work with beta ArcGIS Online services
The new arcgis.ai module puts image and text analysis capabilities right at your fingertips. The functions and classes within this module provide full capabilities to develop productive workflows using image and text analysis along with translation capabilities. Some of the functionality introduced within this module includes translating and extracting text, as well as summarizing documents to transform repetitive work into automated workflows. See the Enhancing 311 Service Requests with ArcGIS AI Utility Services sample document for a sample workflow using this module.
Note: The arcgis.ai module currently depends on ArcGIS Online services that are still in beta and are expected to transition to general availability in a future release. These services may also incur ArcGIS Online credit usage for transactions made through the arcgis.ai module once they graduate from beta to general release in the future.
Improvements to GIS Administration and Content Management
The new admin property on GIS objects simplifies accessing of the appropriate Administrator class for each web gis deployment. The introduction of the AboutManager for ArcGIS Enterprise on Kubernetes deployments within the arcgis.gis.admin submodule streamline administrative tasks for detailed inspection of everything from general health to licensing. A new function configure_entrprise() and new dataclasses like SiteConfiguration and ConfiguationJob provide automated setup capability. The addition of the arcgis.apps.dashboards module, which removes the previous arcgis.apps.dashboard module, modernizes interaction with ArcGIS Dashboards, focusing on dependency management and replacement to enhance and simplify cloning for Dashboard items. See the Introduction to the dashboards module guide for a detailed illustration. Also see the new dashboard_mapping and dashboard_options parameters for clone_items() implementation details. The new to_knowledgegraph() exports item dependency graph data to a KnowledgeGraph object, allowing for in-depth analysis and visualization of content relationships.
Enhancements in Mapping Capabilities and Visualization
Many new updates within the arcgis.map module enhance and simplify visualization when using the map widget in an ArcGIS Notebook. The Python API added support for the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript 5.0 release to take advantage of the many drawing improvements. This release focused on providing simplified management for popups, renderers and forms by adding new popup_manager, renderer_manager, and form_manager properties on the map visualization classes. These properties return instances of the PopupManager, RendererManager, and FormManager classes, respectively. In addition, these properties exist on the new SubtypeGroupLayer class. These properties and classes provide straightforward access to visualization capabilities for a smoother experience when using maps inside notebooks. The new define_renderer()` was added to further simplify the drawing experience in the map widget. This release also brings the new check_compatibility() method on the OfflineMapAreaManager to provide a mechanism for determining whether the content of a web map is viable for using in offline maps.
Updates to Core GIS Functionality
Enhanced documentation illustrating the layout of New Member Defaults with the user_settings get and/or set capability provides an automated means to manage default settings. The addition of the categories property on the User object provides a direct way to examine user categories. The new UtilityServicesSettings class provides an updated means for automating the configuration of utility services from ArcGIS Online into ArcGIS Enterprise deployments. In addition, support for pathlib.Path objects for Folder.add() provides more flexibility when adding content to a deployment.
Additional Details
Enhanced Security with ArcGIS Notebooks
The 2.4.3 release implements a mechanism for increased security when logging in using the GIS("home") functionality in ArcGIS Notebooks that takes advantage of better performance and updated decryption logic upon authenticating. The logic for parsing information necessary for notebook authentication has been updated internally for improved error messages, updated proxy handling, and comprehensive validation. Authentication logic has been enhanced with validation logic to ensure consistency across all authentication schemes. The new get_secret() method enables direct access to information for the Notebook Server's metadata, security rules, and machine information.
New Data Model and Response Types for arcgis.graph
An extensive set of new Data Model Types and ResponseTypes were added to the 2.4.3 release for defining graph structure and output formats of the queried data. A new export() was added for graph domains as well.
Restructured code and new documentation for ArcGIS Story Maps
Many internal utilities were edited to improve processing, particularly for node and resource generation for StoryMap items. In addition, the concept of loading class data only when needed has been implemented throughout the module for improved performance. New classes, Infographic, Image360, and App, were added for more flexibility in automating StoryMap management. See the Working with ArcGIS StoryMaps under the Managing ArcGIS Applications Table of Contents heading for the ArcGIS Python API Guides to see new documents illustrating updated functionality.