topic Search for layers REST API in ArcGIS JavaScript Maps SDK Questions

Search for layers REST API

ThomasLefort — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 12:23:47 GMT

Hi,

I'd like to include some widget similar to the search layer popup you have in the map creation application. This popup helps you find layers based on type/keyword, etc...

I checked the ins and outs and saw the call was in the form http://{my-account}.maps.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/search?some_cryptic_blablabla

Can I use this web service in my own application? is it documented somewhere? can it be called without user or app identification, ie generic api?

Thanks,

Thomas

Re: Search for layers REST API

pmi — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 12:02:55 GMT

http://{my-account}.maps.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/search?f=pjson&q=(tags:"tag1" AND "tag2") AND type:"Feature Service"

Re: Search for layers REST API

JohnGrayson — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 15:29:26 GMT

Have you checked out the 'search' doc yet?

https://developers.arcgis.com/javascript/latest/api-reference/esri-portal-Portal.html#queryItems

https://developers.arcgis.com/javascript/latest/api-reference/esri-portal-PortalQueryParams.html#query

https://developers.arcgis.com/javascript/latest/api-reference/esri-portal-PortalQueryParams.html

https://developers.arcgis.com/rest/users-groups-and-items/search-reference.htm

https://developers.arcgis.com/rest/users-groups-and-items/search.htm

Re: Search for layers REST API

pmi — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 19:13:32 GMT

Thank you John for your answer.

In the link you provided https://developers.arcgis.com/rest/users-groups-and-items/search-reference.htm I found statement Developers should avoid using search to find specific items? What should developers use instead?

I try to find all feature layers whit a certain tag. How can I achieve this using the REST API whit out using JS API Clients?

Here the whole statement:

[...] This search engine uses many different inputs to find the appropriate results and rank them. This often makes search 'fuzzy', making it ideal for human interaction, but not necessarily ideal for looking for specific records programmatically. Developers should avoid using search to find specific items (e.g. by title) as the results of these types of queries might change as the search engine evolves.

Re: Search for layers REST API

JohnGrayson — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 00:06:28 GMT

"...find all feature layers with a certain tag" is not the same as "...using search to find specific items". I think you're reading too much into the highlighted sentence. What you should avoid using 'search' for is when you want to access a specific item. If you need to access a specific item I would recommend creating a PortalItem and use the item id directly. Searching for layers with a certain tag is a valid use of 'search', especially if you limit the search to within an org, group, or by user. If you're using the JS API you can use the above classes to do what you need without having to do things via REST.