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Output formats

ArcGIS REST API supports responses in several formats. You specify the response format using the query parameter f. A list of valid formats is included for each of the resources and operations where f is a parameter.

HTML

Parameter formatDescription
f=html

Default format unless otherwise stated. The response is an HTML page.

The set of these HTML pages for each resource in the system is called the Services Directory. To view the Services Directory page for the root directory of ArcGIS Enterprise, you would use the following URL:

https://machine.domain.com/webadaptor/rest/services?f=html

Since "html" is the default value, you are not required to include this parameter in the URL. This means that the above URL is equivalent to the following URL:

https://machine.domain.com/webadaptor/rest/services

JSON

Parameter formatDescription
f=json

The response is a JSON object in Esri JSON format.

This format is used by many Esri clients and APIs, including ArcGIS API for JavaScript. To retrieve the information in a JSON object, you would use the following URL:

https://machine.domain.com/webadaptor/rest/services?f=json

You can also reference a callback function in the URL as follows:

https://machine.domain.com/webadaptor/rest/services?f=json&callback=myMethod

If you want the JSON object to be more readable, you can use pjson. You should not include this parameter in your production applications, as it will affect performance. Use the parameter for debugging purposes only:

https://machine.domain.com/webadaptor/rest/services?f=pjson

GeoJSON

Parameter formatDescription
f=geojson

The response is in GeoJSON format. The GeoJSON format is standardized in RFC 7946.

Note:

REST services with a hasM value of true do not support GeoJSON as an output format. Attempting to use the GeoJSON format with these services will result in 404 errors.

This format is used by many non-Esri APIs and applications. Supported by query operations in ArcGIS Enterprise:

https://machine.domain.com/webadaptor/rest/services/Census/MapServer/3/query?where=state_name='california'&f=geojson

PBF

Parameter formatDescription
f=pbf

The response is in the Protocol Buffers format.

The PBF format is binary and is thus smaller and faster for clients to parse than JSON. It is used by newer versions of some Esri APIs and applications to improve efficiency. The PBF format is supported by some feature service operations from ArcGIS Enterprise 10.7 and later.

Image

Parameter formatDescription
f=image

The response is a streamed image. No other information is included in the response.

https://machine.domain.com/webadaptor/rest/services/Specialty/ESRI_StateCityHighway_USA/MapServer/export?bbox=-117,35.79,-122,42.38&f=image

KMZ

Parameter formatDescription
f=kmz

The response is a KML document wrapped in a .kmz file.

It can be a footprint or the result of an operation. In the following example, a request is made for a KML footprint of a map service with an extent of the United States:

https://sampleserver1.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/Specialty/ESRI_StateCityHighway_USA/MapServer?f=kmz

For more information about KML as an output option, see KML support.

Help

Parameter formatDescription
f=help

The response is a context-sensitive help document.

The following URL opens the help on the page that provides information about the map service resource:

https://machine.domain.com/webadaptor/rest/services/World_Physical_Map/MapServer?f=help

Pitemx

Parameter formatDescription
f=pitemx

The response generates .pitemx files for map services. These files can be opened in ArcGIS Pro 2.3 and later.

The .pitemx file format is supported by ArcGIS Enterprise 10.7 and later.

Lyr

Legacy:

With the release of ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0, support for ArcMap has been deprecated.

Parameter formatDescription
f=lyr

Generates a layer file for viewing in ArcMap.

https://machine.domain.com/webadaptor/rest/services/World_Physical_Map/MapServer?f=lyr

Jsapi

Parameter formatDescription
f=jsapi

The response is a web page for viewing a map service in a web browser using ArcGIS API for JavaScript.

https://machine.domain.com/webadaptor/rest/services/World_Physical_Map/MapServer?f=jsapi
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