idea Support snapping to line and polygon edges (segments) in ArcGIS Online Ideas

Support snapping to line and polygon edges (segments)

Debert — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:10:37 GMT

Summary:
Enable snapping to feature edges in addition to vertices to improve editing and measurement workflows.

Details:
Current snapping behavior is limited to vertices, requiring users to densify geometries to achieve acceptable accuracy. This introduces unnecessary complexity, increases maintenance, and can degrade performance. Supporting edge-based snapping would streamline workflows and reduce the need for excessive vertex creation.

Use Case:
Measuring perpendicular distance from a centerline point to a water line using the Measure Distance tool. Existing functionality only snaps to endpoints and vertices, limiting accuracy without modifying geometry.

Benefits:
-Improves editing efficiency
-Reduces geometry complexity
-Enhances measurement accuracy
-Supports cleaner, more maintainable datasets

I've logged the enhancement and hope you'll consider ENH-000168338. Cheers!

Re: Support snapping to line and polygon edges (segments)

MErikReedAugusta — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 21:08:49 GMT

This looks to have glitched & double-posted.

Other copy is found here, so ESRI mods can merge the two: https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-field-maps-ideas/support-snapping-to-line-and-polygon-edges/idi-p/1692907/jump-to/first-unread-message

---

In our databases and workflows, we'd generally end up with at least a vertex—if not a full asset/segment break—at the point where those two lines intersect. But I often prefer to make that break after drawing the new line that's first going to need to snap to a line midpoint or other non-vertex edge.

I'd love to see something like this in Field Maps.

---

EDIT: I see now that the two postings are in two different boards; missed that, at first. It's a little unclear to me which board is the more appropriate place for the Idea, and/or whether separate ideas are warranted. I genuinely can't remember what the AGOL Map Viewer snapping currently allows, as I haven't used it in a while.