What Esri API exist to wrap calls to MapServer/layers?

Question

Does Esri provide a JavaScript API to access information at the following URL: https:///arcgis/rest/services//MapServer/layers We can obviously access it via a fairly plain HTTP call, but it seems that most of the Esri jsapi call handle authentication and error handling already. We would like to avoid rebuilding that if I don't have to. We looked at the documentation for ArcGISDynamicMapServiceLayer as that is what we use for our data layer in the map, but it seems that LayerInfo does not contain a lot of information (it looks more like the straight call to /MapServer) What we are really after for each layer is: * Field aliases * Subtype field information * Domains This information is fully available on the /MapServer/layers call.

RobertScheitlin__GISP · Answer

Eric,

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ericliprandi · Answer

Robert,

Thanks for the info. FWIW, we actually consider the Esri JSAPI 3rd party... our app is primarily an AngularJS app hitting our services. So, we already use AngularJS' $http and $resource for all our calls. I was just wondering if esriRequest did anything more that would make it a clear winner to call Esri services.

We'll use it for our couple of Esri calls for now.

Thanks for your help,

Eric.

RobertScheitlin__GISP · Answer

Eric,

See this link about esriRequest for an explanation:

Retrieve data from a web server | Guide | ArcGIS API for JavaScript

If you are going to be using the JS API then why not use methods and modules from the API before using other third party solutions.